WALES

Departmental Policy Advisers

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many special advisers  (a) she and  (b) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (i) has appointed and (ii) plans to appoint.

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many  (a) political appointments and  (b) other personal appointments she has made since her appointment; and at what estimated annual cost to the public purse.

Cheryl Gillan: I refer the hon. Members to the written ministerial statement made by the Prime Minister on 10 June 2010,  Official Report, column 32WS.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Departmental Pay

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was paid in bonuses to civil servants in her Department in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Richard Benyon: An element of DEFRA's overall pay awards is allocated to non-consolidated variable pay related to performance. These payments are used to drive high performance and form part of the pay award for members of staff who demonstrate exceptional performance, for example by exceeding targets set or meeting challenging objectives.
	Non-consolidated variable pay awards are funded from within existing pay bill controls, and have to be re-earned each year against pre-determined targets and, as such, do not add to future pay bill costs. The percentage of the pay bill set aside for performance-related awards for the SCS is based on recommendations from the independent Senior Salaries Review Body.
	The following table provides details of how much was paid in non-consolidated performance pay in DEFRA and its Executive Agencies in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
	Data for DEFRA covers staff at grade 6 and below in core-DEFRA and those Executive Agencies covered by the core-department's terms and conditions at the time i.e. Animal Health, Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Marine and Fisheries Agency. It also includes senior civil servants in core DEFRA and its Executive Agencies (Animal Health, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Marine and Fisheries Agency, Rural Payments Agency, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA). FERA was created on 1 April 2009. Data for 2008-09 relates to its predecessor, the Central Science Laboratory.
	
		
			  £ 
			   2008-09  2009-10 
			 DEFRA 3,072,554 3,021,583 
			 Rural Payments Agency 507,572 464,308 
			 Veterinary Laboratories Agency 47,409 253,853 
			 Food and Environment Research Agency 264,280 378,777 
			 Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science 773,747 798,000

Fisheries: Quotas

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she had  (a) with the government of (i) Norway, (ii) Iceland and (ii) the Faroe Islands and  (b) at EU level on fishing quotas in relation to the North Sea.

Richard Benyon: Neither I nor the Secretary of State have had recent, direct discussions with the Governments of Norway, Iceland or the Faroe Islands on North sea fishing quotas. DEFRA officials, however, have recently taken part in discussions and negotiations on this matter with these countries, and participated in internal EU meetings this year as follows:
	EU/Norway-28 to 30 May;
	EU/Iceland-26 and 27 May; and
	EU/Faroe Islands-14 and 15 January.
	In addition, on 28 to 30 May this year, DEFRA officials also took part in negotiations, involving delegations from the EU, Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands, on the management of mackerel stocks.

Forests

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria are being used by Forestry Commission England to assess the biodiversity and public benefits of the public forest estate as part of a portfolio analysis.

James Paice: The Forestry Commission is using a range of attributes, each of which has either an individual or range of values. These give a points score to every area of woodland greater than 0.5 hectares on the public forest estate. These points are then used for the analysis.
	For Natural Environment, which includes biodiversity, the attributes being scored are:
	Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland and Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites.
	Veteran Trees
	Sites of Special Scientific Interest
	National Nature Reserve, Special Protection Area, Special Area of Conservation
	Presence of European Protected Species
	Bird of Prey breeding or feeding area
	Forestry Commission butterfly priority area
	Red Squirrels
	Other protected species
	Management plan for other specific species
	National Park/Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
	Scheduled Ancient Monuments
	For Quality of Life, which includes direct public benefits, the attributes being scored are:
	Population (Number and distance to component part)
	Freehold/Leasehold and Access
	Visitor Numbers
	Visitor Facilities
	Local 'Friends' and other groups using the woodland
	Community Forest (including National Forest and Coalfield areas)
	Priority Areas (Index of Multiple Deprivation)
	Growth Areas

Forests

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans there are for a repositioning exercise of the public forest estate and programme of land sales by Forestry Commission England.

James Paice: The Forestry Commission is conducting a study into the future long-term sustainable role for the public forest estate. It is expected to make recommendations later this year about any necessary changes to improve its ability to deliver relevant priorities in the Strategy for England's Trees Woods and Forests and contribute to other Government objectives. The outcome of the study and the future role of the Forestry Commission will inform any repositioning.

Forests

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Public Forest Estate Strategic Plans will be revised to meet the English forestry strategy.

James Paice: Strategic plans are prepared at a forest district level. The current arrangements, put in place following the review of the approach in 2008, is that forest districts may delay their revision in order to take into account the evolving operating environment. This included when to convert woods and forests to open habitats, published in March 2010, and the results of the ongoing study of the long-term role of the public forest estate in England, expected later this year. Currently more than half the forest districts have competed a revised plan.

Forests

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to produce the Public Forest Estate implementation plan for the Government's policy on when to convert woods and forests to open habitats in England.

James Paice: When the Forestry Commission published the policy on when to convert woods and forests to open habitats in England they indicated that they would develop the delivery mechanisms and publish a strategy for open habitats on the Forestry Commission Public Forest Estate during 2010-11.

Incinerators

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to provide guidance to local authorities on the use of incinerators for municipal waste; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: A cross-Department energy from waste (EfW) project led by DEFRA and the Department of Energy and Climate Change was established last year. The overarching aim of the project is to consider the role of EfW in waste management and renewable energy generation. As part of that, the project is considering the current state of the EfW market, the relationship between EfW technologies and feedstock choice, the contribution EfW can make to the green economy and how best to communicate EfW policy. We intend to bring forward policy proposals towards the end of 2010.
	It is the responsibility of local authorities not central Government to decide how waste is best managed in their respective areas. Local authorities need to be free to adopt such technologies as part of an integrated waste management solution if they deem it appropriate.

Wood: EU Action

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy in discussions at EU level to support the introduction throughout the EU of severe penalties on those responsible for importing illegally logged timber.

James Paice: The UK is negotiating legislation to eliminate the flow of illegal timber onto the EU market-commonly called the Due Diligence Regulation. Agreement on this at an EU level is expected in July. Inclusion of a prohibition to prevent illegal timber from entering the EU market would be an important component of this regulation which we are working to achieve. Infringements of the final regulation will need to be sanctioned by effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties. The UK will put in place such penalties, and will encourage colleagues in the EU to do the same.

Wood: Imports

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take to prevent the importation into the UK of timber obtained from illegal logging.

James Paice: The UK is negotiating legislation to eliminate the flow of illegal timber onto the EU market-commonly called the due diligence regulation.
	Agreement on this at an EU level is expected in July. Inclusion of a prohibition to prevent illegal timber from entering the EU market would be an important component of this regulation which we are working to achieve.
	The UK is also providing support to voluntary bilateral trade agreements between timber producing countries and the EU. These agreements require timber imports from signatory countries to be licensed to prove that they have been legally harvested.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Pay

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was paid in bonuses to civil servants in his Department in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

David Mundell: All staff in the Scotland Office are on secondment from the Scottish Government or the Ministry of Justice. Staff may be eligible for non-consolidated performance payments in different ways. Firstly, through end of year performance payments under their parent bodies' performance management arrangements. The Scotland Office does not itself make the end of year awards and does not hold information centrally on end of year non-consolidated performance payments made to its secondees.
	Secondly, under the Special Bonus Scheme of the Scottish Government and the Reward and Recognition Scheme of the MoJ, the Office may directly authorise non-consolidated performance payments (or in the case of the MoJ scheme, small and instantaneous awards, e.g. vouchers) in recognition of special effort, achievement and commitment. The following table shows the number and cost of non-pensionable payments made under these schemes.
	
		
			  Financial year  Total number of payments  Total cost of payments (£) 
			 2008-09 8 2,900 
			 2009-10 17 2,925

Departmental Reviews

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2010,  Official Report, column 137W, on Government departments: reviews, what reviews his Department is undertaking; and what the  (a) purpose and  (b) timescale of each is.

David Mundell: My Department is not undertaking any reviews. It will contribute to other reviews being undertaken across Government in accordance with its policy responsibilities.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Union Flag

Ian Austin: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what her policy is on flying the Union flag each day from each official building for which the Government Equalities Office is responsible.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office is based in a building Eland House occupied by Communities and Local Government. CLG's policy is to fly the flag 365 days a year.

Departmental Manpower

David Anderson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what her estimate is of the cost to the public purse of proposed reductions in numbers of non-front line staff in the Government Equalities Office and its agencies.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office is not proposing to cut any staff numbers in 2010-11.

Departmental Manpower

David Anderson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many  (a) front-line and  (b) other staff were employed by (i) the Government Equalities Office and (ii) each of its agencies in the latest year for which figures are available; and what her most recent estimate is of the annual cost to the public purse of employing staff of each type in that office.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office is a small policy department and our main function is supporting Ministers, for example in developing legislation, rather than delivering front-line services. GEO employed on average130 staff in 2009-10 in this role, at a cost of £7.4 million. The Government Equalities Office does not have any agencies.

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what her policy is on the use by Ministers in the Government Equalities Office of cars allocated from  (a) its pool and  (b) the Government car pool which are manufactured in the UK; whether Ministers in that Office are entitled to request the use of a car manufactured in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office does not have a pool of cars for use by its Ministers.
	Arrangements are changing following the publication of the new Ministerial Code which contains changes that affect ministerial entitlement to travel by Government car. The code states that
	"the number of Ministers with allocated cars and drivers will be kept to a minimum, taking into account security and other relevant considerations. Other Ministers will be entitled to use cars from the Government Car Service Pool as needed."
	Cabinet Office has provided clarification on how the code should be interpreted. The expectation is that Ministers not in the Cabinet will use the pool service and that Cabinet Ministers who have an allocated car will wish to consider how that car might be utilised by other Ministers within the Department before calls are made on the Government Car Service Pool.
	The Department for Transport and its Government Car and Despatch Agency are working with Departments to effect the transition to the new arrangements.

Departmental Official Residences

Ian Austin: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities whether any domestic properties in the gift of the Government have been allocated to the use of Ministers in her Department.

Lynne Featherstone: No domestic properties have been allocated to Ministers by the Government Equalities Office.

Departmental Translation Services

Ian Austin: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what  (a) documents and  (b) other information for which (i) the Government Equalities Office and (ii) its associated public bodies are responsible are published or provided in the UK in languages other than English; for what reason each such publication is required to be made available in a language or languages other than English; and what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the translation work so incurred in the latest period for which figures are available.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office has arranged for the following documents and information to be published in Welsh: Equality Bill:
	Framework for a Fairer Future; Equality Bill Consultation (Age)-Easy read; and Public Appointments cards.
	The Government Equalities Office has also arranged for the Forced Marriage fact sheet in Urdu and Arabic; and the Female Genital Mutilation fact sheet in Somali.
	The translations were produced in the appropriate language because the documents provide advice or policy statements that could have a bearing on those people whose first language is not English. The estimate cost of the above translations is £19,251.24.
	The Women's National Commission (WNC) has arranged for documents to be published in Welsh at the request of WNC partners as part of our regular outreach activities. In September-October 2007, two Welsh events were held which required the translation of some documents for use on the day. This work amounted to £69.45 in total. In February 2008, event documentation was translated into Welsh costing £178.70.
	The Equality and Human Rights Commission uses its Welsh Language Scheme to assess the need to publish documents in the Welsh language. Publications are assessed on a case by case basis. Criteria used will include the extent to which publications are to be used by the general public and stakeholders in Wales.
	On average the Commission spends between £120,000 and £140,000 per year on all Welsh translation.
	The Commission rarely translates its publications into other languages. This is again assessed on a case by case basis, with consideration given to the objectives of the project and needs of the target audience. For example, the Commission's recent inquiry into employment and recruitment in the meat processing industry took evidence from migrant workers who predominantly only spoke eastern European languages. Therefore additional translation of materials was undertaken. The cost of this translation was less than £5,000 in total.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Talisman route clearance system is  (a) fully operational and  (b) being used.

Peter Luff: The Talisman route clearance system is being used in Afghanistan and has been fully operational since April 2010.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for the entry of the Watchkeeper air system into service in Afghanistan.

Peter Luff: Watchkeeper is planned to be introduced into Afghanistan incrementally during 2011.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made towards awarding Afghan campaign medals to those who have served in the aero-med teams; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The case for awarding the operational service medal (Afghanistan) to aero-medical evacuation teams is being actively considered.

Armed Forces Day

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to mark Armed Forces Day; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: Armed Forces Day is an annual opportunity for the nation to show their support for the men and women of the armed forces community: from currently serving troops to service families; and from ex-service personnel to cadets. This year the national event will take place in Cardiff and will begin with a parade from Cardiff castle to the millennium centre followed by many other events, including: a drumhead service; a fly past from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Red Arrows; a Campaign Reunion centre; displays and exhibitions from the Royal Marines Commando display team; as well as many non-military, family orientated activities, culminating with a firework display in Cardiff Bay.
	Other initiatives include 'Fly the Flag', in which Government Departments and local councils are encouraged to fly the Armed Forces Day flag from 21 June until Armed Forces Day. Retail flags and window stickers are available to members of the public, there will be uniform to work and uniform to school days, and a special magazine is being produced. We are also making use of the internet and are happy to be supported by platforms such as Twitter, Flickr and YouTube, among others.
	Across the country people are getting involved in hundreds of different events. Further information about these events or how individuals can organise their own can be found at
	http://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/

Armed Forces Day

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which events Ministers of his Department will attend in connection with Armed Forces Day; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: On current plans, the Secretary of State for Defence will be attending the National Event in Cardiff on 26 June; the Minister for the Armed Forces will be attending the events in Plymouth; the Minister for International Security Strategy will be attending the events in Nottingham while the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology will be attending the events planned in Manchester. I will be attending a flag raising event in London on 21 June. Ministers will continue to examine the possibility of being involved in other events to show support for the service community where the opportunity arises.

Armed Forces: Contraceptives

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on condoms for members of the armed forces in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and for what reasons.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence's Defence Health Strategy (DHS) has as one of its targets the promotion of sexual health across the armed forces. This makes an important contribution to the aim of maximising the number of personnel fit to perform the tasks required of them. Within the Surgeon General's Department (SGD), the Defence Sexual Health Working Group provides guidance and promotes a range of promotional initiatives.
	Since August 2008, SGD has held a health promotion budget to support the DHS, and has spent a total of around £80,000, £45,000 in 2008-09 and £35,000 in 2009-10, on provision of condom machines in service clubs and messes, as well as on individual packages of condoms for distribution throughout the armed forces. Further campaigns may have been funded by the single services, or even more locally at unit level, but expenditure in these areas is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Dogs

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dogs of each breed there are in each service of the armed forces; and what functions they carry out.

Andrew Robathan: There are 399 military working dogs across the armed forces. Animal records are kept by function rather than by breed. Information by breed could be provided only at disproportionate cost, but breeds used are primarily labradors, German shepherd dogs, mallenots and English springer spaniels. The numbers of dogs are split across the services as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			   Navy  Army  RAF 
			 Protection 0 71 159 
			 Search 0 111 58 
		
	
	There are a further 503 dogs within the Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency and other guarding organisations.

Armed Forces: Dogs

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether dogs are permitted in officers' messes; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: It is for the local commander to establish clear guidelines on the keeping of pets in messes.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the Army Recovery Capability; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) remains committed to the Army Recovery Capability, as set out at the launch on 11 February this year. This new capability marks a further step forward in the support to our armed forces and will ensure the best possible care and management is provided to our wounded, sick and injured personnel.
	The MOD has committed £30 million over the next four years to manage and deliver the Army Recovery Capability in partnership with the Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes, who have both generously committed £20 million towards the operational and build costs.
	The Army Recovery Capability will bring together a range of separate services, such as the NHS, the charitable sector and other Government Departments, into a single coherent programme and will either return individuals to duty or prepare them for civilian life, however long that takes. For those who leave the armed forces, it will provide the right training, civilian employment advice and work placements.
	A key element of the concept is the provision of purpose built centres. These will build on the experiences of the Pathfinder Centre that was established in Edinburgh on 17 August 2009. It is currently envisaged that there will be four centres, in Colchester, Catterick, Tidworth/Bulford and in Edinburgh. They will be located near or in Army garrisons to allow personnel the use of Army facilities and support from the Army. Members of all three services will be able to access them.

Armed Forces: Horses

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many times horses in the armed forces have been transported abroad in the last 12 months; and for what reasons;
	(2)  how many horses there are in each of the armed services; and how many carry out each function.

Andrew Robathan: Neither the Royal Navy nor the Royal Air Force own any horses. There are a total of 485 horses in the Army, all of which are used for ceremonial purposes. 71 of these are based at the Defence Animal Centre for training and to provide a reserve to cover injury and sickness.
	In the last 12 months horses have been transported abroad twice. A breakdown is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Date  Purpose  Number 
			 July 2009 Basle Military Tattoo 29 
			 October 2009 Abu Dhabi International Equestrian Exhibition 30 
		
	
	In both cases there was no additional charge to the public purse as costs were met by the event organisers.

Armed Forces: Housing

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent upgrading single living service accommodation in each of the last five years.

Andrew Robathan: As part of a £1.4 billion investment programme, since 2003 some 40,000 new or improved single living accommodation (SLA) bed-spaces have been delivered. A further 20,000 are planned by 2013, subject to future funding decisions.
	The programme is being delivered through various initiatives across the Department, including private finance initiative projects where SLA improvements are only one element of the work. Exact expenditure by year cannot be separately identified and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Housing

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the Armed Forces Shared Equity scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The pilot of the Armed Forces Home Ownership Scheme is due to last four years. The Ministry of Defence will continue to monitor and evaluate the scheme through the Homes and Communities Agency.
	Plans to continue beyond the pilot will be determined by take-up rates, feedback as to whether the scheme meets the aspirations of service personnel, value for money and affordability.

Armed Forces: Housing

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department  (a) spent in each of the last five years and  (b) intends to spend in each of the next two years upgrading armed forces housing.

Andrew Robathan: The following has been spent upgrading service family accommodation properties in the last five financial years:
	
		
			  Financial year  Spend (£ million) 
			 2005-06 32.4 
			 2006-07 16.4 
			 2007-08 16.9 
			 2008-09 35.5 
			 2009-10 64.0 
		
	
	While the Department plans many more upgrades in future years, expenditure on this, as with other areas of defence spending, will be subject to the future funding decisions.
	The coalition Government will look at whether there is scope to refurbish the armed forces' accommodation from efficiencies within the Ministry of Defence.

Armed Forces: Mental Health Services

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the review of the six NHS mental health pilot schemes for former armed forces personnel; when he expects to publish the conclusions of the review; and what plans he has to allocate funding in support of the review's conclusions.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the six NHS mental health pilot schemes for former armed forces personnel; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The Government are committed to providing effective, through-life, mental health services for our service and ex-service personnel. The Department of Health and devolved Administrations, with support from the Ministry of Defence, are currently undertaking community mental health pilots for ex-service personnel at six NHS trusts across the UK. The final pilot in Scotland is due to be completed in April 2011.
	Initial findings suggest that a variety of different approaches can be used to meet ex-service personnel needs including optional pathways into care not dependent on traditional GP referrals; that NHS processes and interventions benefit from medical personnel with an understanding and interest in veterans and who are able to carry out rigorous client assessment and case formulation.
	MOD has provided some £500,000 towards the setting up and evaluation of the pilots. Evaluation of the pilots will be undertaken in the autumn. Subject to the findings, best practice will be identified and will provide input for planning future provision by the NHS of mental health services across the UK from 2011-12.

Armed Forces: Royal Household

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel of each rank from each service are attached to the Royal Household; and at what cost in the latest period for which figures are available.

Andrew Robathan: In order to provide service knowledge and assistance to six senior principal members of the royal family in their service appointments, 13 members of the armed forces are permanently attached to the royal household at a total cost of approximately £960,000 per annum. Each post is rotational through the three services. The current breakdown is as follows:
	1 Wing Commander (RAF)
	1 Lieutenant Commander (RN)
	1 Major (Army)
	1 Captain (Army)
	1 Warrant Officer Class 2 (Army)
	1 Staff Sergeant (Army)
	1 Petty Officer (RN)
	1 Lance Sergeant (Corporal) (Army)
	2 Corporal (Army)
	1 Corporal (RAF)
	2 Lance Corporal (Army).

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) Mastiff,  (b) Ridgeback and  (c) other armoured vehicles are on order; and what the timetable is for their entry into theatre.

Peter Luff: The following Mastiff, Ridgback and other armoured vehicles are on order:
	
		
			  Vehicle  On order 
			 Warthog 101 
			 Talisman Mastiff 2 1 
			 Talisman Buffalo 1 
			 Talisman high mobility excavator (HMEE) 4 
			 Ridgback 20 
			 Mastiff 32 
			 Wolfhound 48 
			 Husky 30 
		
	
	The figures are limited to complete platforms and do not include enhancements to existing vehicles. The figures used represent the number of armoured vehicles on contract less those vehicles reported as already having been delivered to the Ministry of Defence as at 10 June 2010.
	Details on the timetable for delivery of entry into theatre are being withheld as the information is likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for delivery of the second batch of light patrol protected vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Luff: Industry responses to the invitation to tender for the initial batch of light protected patrol vehicles (LPPV) are due to be returned on 15 June. As a contract for the LPPV requirement has yet to be let, delivery details cannot be confirmed at this stage as they are still subject to commercial negotiations. Delivery of a second batch of LPPV will also be subject to commercial negotiations once the full requirement has been refined.

Astute Class Submarines

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for the delivery of each Astute class submarine; and how many have been ordered in the last five years.

Peter Luff: Since June 2005, contracts have been awarded that relate to three Astute class submarines. These are as follows:
	
		
			  Boat  Contract  Date 
			 4 Long lead items May 2006 
			 4 Initial build May 2007 
			 5 Long lead items December 2007 
			 5 Initial build March 2010 
			 6 Long lead items March 2010 
		
	
	The Strategic Defence and Security Review will define the future shape and role of the armed forces and the equipment that they will need. The impact on any specific equipment projects, including the Astute programme, will be announced in due course. Furthermore, the Astute programme is currently being re-baselined, so the delivery timetable can only be confirmed once detailed joint planning and cost analysis work has been completed.

Chinook Helicopters

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for the entry into service of the first of the new Chinook helicopters; and how much has been spent from the public purse on the development of the new Chinook helicopters in the last five years.

Peter Luff: In December 2009, the Ministry of Defence announced the intention to procure 22 new Chinook helicopters. The date for entry into service of the first Chinook will be confirmed as part of the main investment decision later this year, although the first ten of the new Chinook are planned to be delivered during the course of 2012 and 2013. A contract valued at £68 million for development and long lead component manufacture was awarded to Boeing in March 2010 and up to the end of May work to the value of approximately £8 million has been completed.

Defence

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which defence projects are awaiting approval.

Peter Luff: The Government are reassessing spending approvals granted between 1 January 2010 and the general election to ensure that they offer good value for money and are consistent with the Government's priorities. This includes a number of approvals relating to Defence equipment projects and further announcements will be made in due course.

Defence Animal Centre

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his plans are for the future of the Centre for Defence Animals at Melton Mowbray; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: Under current plans the Defence Animal Centre at Melton Mowbray will continue to provide training for all military working animals and their handlers.

Defence Medical Services

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the relocation of Defence Medical Services to Lichfield; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The relocation of elements of the Defence Medical Services, namely Headquarters Surgeon General (HQ SG) and major components of the Joint Medical Command (JMC), is proceeding to plan. The new HQ, named Coltman House, has been built and is now fully occupied. Alongside HQ SG, the elements of the JMC now at Whittington comprise the Defence Medical Group (DMG) and JMC HQ (previously located at Gosport); Director Healthcare (previously located in London); Defence Dental Service (previously located at RAF Halton); and the Defence Postgraduate Medical Dean (previously located in Birmingham).
	We anticipate announcing a preferred bidder for the next phase of the project, known as "Increment 2", this summer. This will include new training facilities, a new learning centre, a new lecture theatre, new messes for officers and for warrant officers and senior NCOs, and a new junior ranks dining and leisure facility. "Increment 3", running in parallel with "Increment 2", will provide modern living accommodation, and is being run as part of the MOD-wide Project SLAM (Single Living Accommodation Modernisation).

Departmental Official Hospitality

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what budget his Department has allocated for entertainment, including alcohol, in each of the next three years.

Andrew Robathan: We use official entertainment to pursue UK security policy interests, facilitate a wider public understanding of the armed forces, and enhance professional contacts within the UK and with other nations. Expenditure on official entertainment must be modest and is incurred according to business need.
	Expenditure in each of the last three years has been approximately £4 million. Departmental expenditure plans for 2011-12 and beyond have not yet been agreed, but we expect the amount spent to reduce.
	Currently no new official entertainment can be arranged without the prior approval of nominated senior civil servants.

Ex-servicemen: Military Decorations

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many veterans' lapel badges have been issued to former members of the armed forces to date.

Andrew Robathan: As of 9 June 2010, 790,650 veterans lapel badges have been issued to former members of the armed forces and their entitled dependants since their introduction on 10 April 2004.

Ex-servicemen: Radiation Exposure

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take on the issue of nuclear test veterans; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his latest assessment is of research undertaken into the health of nuclear test veterans and their families.

Andrew Robathan: This Government recognise and are grateful to all the service personnel who participated in the British nuclear testing programme. Their contribution ensured that the UK was equipped with an appropriate nuclear deterrent during the cold war which, thankfully, we never needed to use.
	MOD has previously commissioned considerable research into investigating health issues relating to nuclear test veterans.
	We will continue to look at any health issues raised by nuclear test veterans. We are currently considering a health needs audit of nuclear test veterans' health needs. The aim is for this project to be of practical relevance to veterans with results delivered to a reasonable time scale. The assistance and support provided by the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association in this process is greatly appreciated and we will continue to work with them going forward.

HMS Sultan

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) civilian and  (b) military staff at HMS Sultan School of Navy Engineering have informed his Department that they will not move to RAF St. Athan; and what the estimated cost is of replacing them with equivalent personnel.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 14 June 2010
	Under current plans the relocation of Defence Training Rationalisation elements at HMS Sultan will take place by 2020. The appointment of military staff to posts in St Athan will be conducted through the normal military system nearer to the move of HMS Sultan. Civilian staff currently working at HMS Sultan will transfer across to Metrix at the start of the contract in 2011 and therefore they will be Metrix employees when the move to St Athan occurs in 2015 at the earliest. Civilian staff have yet to be approached to determine who will wish to move to St Athan; that consultation will take place nearer the time.

HMS Sultan

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost of moving HMS Sultan School of Navy Engineering to RAF St Athan in Wales.

Peter Luff: holding answer 14 June 2010
	Under current plans HMS Sultan will be the last training organisation to move to St Athan which will occur by 2020. At this early stage in the development of the project, it is not possible to provide the specific costs relating to the move.

Military Aircraft

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many C-17 Globemaster Aircraft have been delivered for use by the armed forces in the last five years.

Peter Luff: In the last five years two C-17 Globemaster aircraft have entered service with the RAF. There are a total of six aircraft in service with a seventh expected to enter service in January 2011 against an approved in-service date of May 2011.

Military Aircraft

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what change there has been in the number of UK military airframes available to commanders in the last three years.

Peter Luff: Officials are collating the information requested, across the armed forces, and I will write to the hon. Member shortly when this work is complete.

Military Aircraft

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the seventh C-17 Globemaster 111 aircraft to enter into service.

Peter Luff: The seventh C-17 Globemaster III aircraft is expected to enter service with the RAF in January 2011 against an approved in-service date of May 2011.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters are under order from his Department; and when he expects them to be delivered into theatre.

Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence has 62 new Lynx Wildcat helicopters on order from Augusta Westland. 34 Lynx Wildcat (Army variant) are due to be delivered incrementally between 2012 and 2016, with the remaining 28 Lynx Wildcat (Navy variant) being delivered between 2013 and 2017. Subject to operational requirements, the Lynx Wildcat should be available for deployment to theatre in 2015.
	On 15 December 2009, the previous Defence Secretary announced the intention to buy an additional 22 new Chinook as part of a new Rotary Wing Strategy. These aircraft are not yet on contract.
	It should be noted that under the Strategic Defence and Security Review, work has been set in hand to review all major equipment and support contracts to ensure the future programme is coherent with future defence needs and can be afforded.

Military Decorations

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he bring forward proposals to review the case for a National Defence Medal; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The Government have announced its intention to conduct a review of the rules governing the award of medals. However, there are no current plans specifically to review the case for a National Defence Medal.

Ministry of Defence Guard Service: Finance

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the Ministry of Defence Guard Service.

Andrew Robathan: The forecast cost of the Ministry of Defence Guard Service for the current financial year is £112 million.

Nuclear Weapons

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the US-UK Mutual Defence Agreement will be renewed during the life of this Parliament; and when discussions on renewal of the agreement are scheduled to commence.

Gerald Howarth: While no expiry date applies for the agreement as a whole, Article III bis of the Agreement, an article relating to the transfer of Materials and Equipment which was introduced in 1959, is periodically reviewed. It was last reviewed in 2004 and expires in December 2014. At this stage, no specific timetable for any discussions on a further extension has been agreed.
	Copies of the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement and its subsequent amendments are in the Library of the House.

Nuclear Weapons

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the next stocktake meeting between the Government and the US Administration under the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement is scheduled to take place; and where the meeting will be held.

Gerald Howarth: Arrangements have not been finalised but it is intended that the next stocktake meeting will take place in mid September in the US.

Nuclear Weapons

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the exchange programme between the Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency Special Escort Group and the United States Office of Secure Transportation remains in force; how many  (a) US and  (b) UK staff have undertaken exchange visits under the terms of the programme; and whether the programme took place under the auspices of the 1958 US-UK Mutual Defence Agreement.

Gerald Howarth: There is no formal exchange programme. The Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency Special Escort Group and United States Office of Secure Transportation (OST), who have similar national roles, have, over the last five years taken part in short visits and meetings to share best practice and to discuss matters of common interest.
	During this period, 10 Special Escort Group Personnel have visited OST. The number of OST personnel who have visited the UK is not held in the format requested. However, I can confirm that the visits took place under the auspices of the 1958 UK/US Mutual Defence Agreement.

Nuclear Weapons

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator's inspection programme for 2010.

Peter Luff: There is no overarching Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR) annual inspection programme. Instead, each of the bodies or activities regulated by the DNSR have specific regulatory intervention strategies and plans in place, which are tailored to their individual circumstances.

Radioactive Materials: Transport

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many operations involving the movement of defence nuclear materials the Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency Special Escort Group undertook during 2009-10.

Peter Luff: These details relate to the operational programme for transporting defence nuclear materials. I am therefore withholding the requested information, because its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice national security.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Members: Correspondence

Keith Vaz: To ask the Attorney-General for what reasons a reply has not been sent to the letter from the right hon. Member for Leicester East concerning Mr Martin Wheelwright and the Serious Fraud Office.

Edward Garnier: A letter was sent to the right hon. Member for Leicester East on 9 June 2010.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Peace Negotiations

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he received on the recent peace talks held by tribal leaders in Kabul; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The UK welcomed the Consultative Peace Jirga held in Kabul on 2-4 June 2010 as an important and positive step on the path towards concluding an enduring political settlement. The Jirga's declaration called on the insurgents to put an end to the fighting and begin a process of negotiation. We are pleased that the Government of Afghanistan now has a mandate to take this forward. We hope that the Jirga marks the start of a comprehensive and genuinely representative political process that engages the Afghan people. The UK will support the Government of Afghanistan in this effort.

Afghanistan: Peace Negotiations

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has sought to make contact with Taliban leaders to hold peace talks.

Alistair Burt: No. Enduring stability in Afghanistan will require a political process that is led by the Afghans themselves, in parallel to the military and development effort. Towards that end, the UK welcomed the Consultative Peace Jirga held in Kabul on 2-4 June 2010 as a step on the path towards concluding a lasting political settlement.

Antarctic

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to introduce legislation on the Antarctic following the consultation on the draft Antarctic Bill.

Henry Bellingham: The Government announced their legislative programme in the Queen's Speech and will consider other legislative priorities in due course.

Departmental Official Cars

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK-based officials in his Department have the use of an official car and driver.

Henry Bellingham: No UK-based officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have a dedicated car or driver.
	FCO Services, a Trading Fund of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, operate a small pool of vehicles and security cleared drivers used mainly for transportation of diplomatic bags and other classified material.
	Certain senior officials (including the Permanent Under-Secretary) are able to draw on this pool for official and operationally necessary travel, on a pay for use basis with bookings made in advance. Use of the FCO Services car pool is subject to operational need and governed by strict internal guidelines.

Departmental Official Cars

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consular and diplomatic vehicles his Department has purchased since 12 May 2010; and at what cost.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has purchased no consular and diplomatic vehicles in the UK since 12 May 2010. Records relating to the purchase of vehicles by our missions overseas is not held centrally and to obtain the information would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when and in what form he plans to publish a list of all items of expenditure by his Department over £25,000.

Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has written to Cabinet Ministers reiterating transparency commitments made in the coalition programme for government, and setting out a timetable for achieving them. In particular, certain new items of central Government spending over £25,000 to be published online from November 2010. We are working with our colleagues across Government to come up with a consistent approach to this for all UK spend.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 23-24W, on departmental public expenditure, what changes he expects to make to his Department's programme spend in 2010.

Alistair Burt: As per my reply of 7 June 2010 to the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones),  Official Report, columns 23-24W, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is currently leading a review of programme spend within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Until the review is complete, it would be premature to speculate on any likely changes to Foreign and Commonwealth Office programme spend.

Diplomatic Service: Housing

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to ensure that members of the Diplomatic Service pay back to the public purse any increase in the value of their properties in the UK rented out while serving abroad.

Alistair Burt: No. The arrangements that employees of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office make for their private housing in the UK is a matter for them and there would be no legal basis for introducing such a policy.

EU Countries: British Nationals Abroad

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British nationals are resident in each of the member states of the EU.

David Lidington: The number of British nationals resident in the member states of the EU totals 1,830,105. The latest figures available were collected in March 2007 and are as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Austria 7,369 
			 Belgium 39,867 
			 Bulgaria 1,700 
			 Cyprus 60,000 
			 Czech Republic 3,183 
			 Denmark 13,183 
			 Estonia 220 
			 Finland 4,350 
			 France 381,000 
			 Germany 115,554 
			 Greece 31,470 
			 Hungary 2,640 
			 Ireland 112,548 
			 Italy 71,990 
			 Latvia 400 
			 Lithuania 250 
			 Luxembourg 4,480 
			 Malta 6,000 
			 Netherlands 73,600 
			 Poland 2,531 
			 Portugal 34,624 
			 Romania 6,000 
			 Slovakia 1,000 
			 Slovenia 157 
			 Spain 840,989 
			 Sweden 15,000 
		
	
	In January 2009 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office commissioned a study, "Making the most of the British Diaspora" by the Institute of Public Policy Research. This study includes and estimate of the number of British citizens abroad by country and will be published and available online at
	http://www.ippr.org.uk/publicationsandreports
	on Monday 28 June.

EU Institutions

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to increase the number of civil service fast streamers working in European Union institutions.

David Lidington: This autumn will see the first intake of a relaunched Civil Service European fast-stream. European fast stream candidates will take up positions in the civil service, with a view to them undertaking the entrance exams for the European Institutions-the Concours-before the end of 2012.

EU Institutions

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to increase the number of British nationals working in European Union institutions.

David Lidington: I have discussed this issue with Cathy Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security and Vice President of the Commission and Maros Sefcovic, Commissioner for Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration. The Government are taking forward the 'success in the EU project' aimed at the increasing the number of British nationals working in the European Union institutions. Initiatives under the project include the relaunch of the European fast stream and working closely with the European Personnel Selection Office, EPSO, in the UK to encourage more British nationals to undertake the EU entrance exams-the Concours. The project is also seeking to improve the mechanisms for secondments from the UK civil service to the EU institutions. I will shortly be considering options for next steps for the project.

European Parliament

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he raised the question of the European Parliament's seat in Strasbourg with his French counterpart on his recent visit to Paris.

David Lidington: I discussed the matter with my French counterpart in our first bilateral. I also put forward the Government's position during my first visit to the European Parliament on 1 June.

European Union: Parliamentary Scrutiny

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to bring forward proposals for amending the House's Scrutiny Reserve Resolution for the European Scrutiny Committee.

David Lidington: This Government want to increase democratic and parliamentary control, scrutiny and accountability over EU decision making. The Government attach great importance to allowing the Parliament to be able to scrutinise EU business in good time. Getting the scrutiny system right is a top priority for us. We expect to engage with the European Scrutiny Committee on the Scrutiny Reserve Resolution as soon as the Committee has been established.

Falkland Islands: Oil

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likelihood of the presence of commercially extractable quantities of oil in Falklands Islands waters.

Jeremy Browne: Hydrocarbons exploration resumed in Falkland Islands waters in February 2010. Rockhopper Exploration announced an oil discovery in their Sea Lion prospect in the North Falklands Basin on 6 May 2010. This well has been suspended for future testing. So far, there has been no confirmation of any find of hydrocarbons in commercially viable quantities. Exploration is continuing.

Government Hospitality: Wines

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance is issued to Government departments on the use of wine from the Government Wine Cellar; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: Government Hospitality (GH) does not issue guidance to Departments on the use of wines from the cellar except as part of the overall service offered by Government Hospitality. All Ministers and Departments are advised of the availability of the GH service soon after the appointment of the Government.

Government Hospitality: Wines

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to the public purse was of bottles of wine purchased for the Government wine cellar since 6 May 2010.

Henry Bellingham: Government Hospitality (GH) in Protocol Directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has responsibility for the management of the stock in the Government wine cellar. Apart from beverage wines that are bought on an ad hoc basis, GH usually buys new stock on two or three occasions each year, as advised by the GH Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine. GH buys wines young, when first available in the retail market and relatively less expensive, and stores them until they are ready to use. It purchases throughout the year according to its requirements, market rates, availability and value for money. Since 6 May 2010 Government Hospitality has spent £17,698 on new stock for the cellar. None of these wines has yet been used.
	Careful management of the Government wine cellar enables GH to provide wine for high profile events at significantly below the current market rate, making substantial savings for the taxpayer. Government Hospitality is also able to recoup money from other Government Departments for events it manages on their behalf, helping to offset the costs of new stock. In financial year 2009-10 GH was able to reclaim £47,000 of the total annual expenditure on the cellar of £80,662. This was itself a reduction on the 2008-09 figure of over 30%.

Pakistan: Religious Freedom

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response his Department made to reports of attacks on two Ahmadiyya Muslim mosques in Lahore on 28 May 2010.

Alistair Burt: The UK shares the deep concern felt about these terrible attacks which killed over 90 people, and injured over 100. On 28 May 2010, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr Hague) said
	"the British Government utterly condemns the attacks in Lahore, which have led to the loss of so many innocent lives. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. The attacks are a reminder of the importance of the international community working with Pakistan to tackle the threat of violent extremism".
	Our consular staff at our high commission in Islamabad provided support to the family of the British national who was killed in the attack. Senior officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have met with representatives of the Ahmadiyya community in the UK. I will be meeting the leadership of the community at the FCO in the near future to discuss the concerns of the Ahmadiyya community in detail.
	Our British high commissioner in Islamabad has raised the attacks and the discrimination suffered by the Ahmadiyya community with the Chief Minister of Punjab alongside his European Union colleagues. We have raised the issue bilaterally with the Pakistani authorities, including with the Ministries for Minorities and of the Interior.

Palestinians: International Assistance

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Middle East Quartet on securing free access to Gaza for the purposes of providing humanitarian aid, construction material and other non-military supplies.

Alistair Burt: holding answer 14 June 2010
	Both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have discussed these issues recently with their Israeli counterparts. We also continue to discuss these issues with our international partners, including during the Foreign Secretary's recent visits to EU capitals-and with Quartet Representative Tony Blair. We welcome Quartet consideration of these important issues.

Palestinians: International Assistance

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the establishment of an international investigation into the interception of the Free Gaza movement flotilla.

Alistair Burt: holding answer 14 June 2010
	We have underlined the need for a full, credible, impartial and independent investigation into the events of 31 May. We have made clear that we want to see a process that ensures full accountability and commands the confidence of the international community.
	Israel has launched an internal military investigation and announced on 14 June a separate inquiry headed by former Supreme Court judge Yaakov Tirkel and including David Trimble and Ken Watkins as international observers. This is a positive step. We will await details of the inquiry's conduct and findings before drawing further conclusions.
	UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has also announced an inquiry panel, led by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer, though no further details have been announced on the membership or composition of this panel.

Passports: Fraud

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances he has received from the government of Israel that it will not sanction the misuse of British passports.

Alistair Burt: I have not yet received any formal assurance from Israel. An assurance that British passports will not be misused, would be a positive step from Israel both in its engagement with this new Government and in helping to re-establish the trust of the British passport holders.

Russia: Espionage

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the number of Russian Federation intelligence officers operating in the UK.

Nick Herbert: I have been asked to reply.
	It is the long-standing policy of HM Government not to comment on security and intelligence matters.

Russia: Human Rights

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he or other Ministers in the Department have had with their Russian counterparts; and whether they raised human rights issues during those discussions.

David Lidington: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have not yet held substantive discussions with their Russian counterparts. However, the Government remain deeply concerned about Russia's poor human rights record and will continue to raise this with them. The Government will press for an end to the apparent impunity for those that perpetrate human rights abuses, stressing that those involved should be brought to justice in trials which meet international standards. The Government will continue to work with Russia on addressing ongoing human rights issues, including through our bilateral human rights dialogue.

South Africa: Football

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British nationals he expects to visit South Africa during the World Cup Finals; and what provisions his Department is making to assist them.

Henry Bellingham: It is difficult to provide a precise figure for the number of fans that will travel to South Africa for the World Cup. It is likely to be in the tens of thousands. We anticipate this number will be bolstered by last-minute bookings if England reach the later stages of the tournament.
	The safety and welfare of British nationals is our paramount concern. We launched the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) 'Be on the Ball' travel safety campaign in November 2009. This campaign's objective is to provide clear, concise travel advice and tips to travelling fans and to inform them what consular staff can and cannot do to help them. We have also encouraged fans to visit our webpage
	www.fco.gov.uk/worldcup
	This provides further information ranging from advice on the rules of the road and crime avoidance to what to do on match days.
	Since October 2009 a dedicated football liaison officer at the British high commission in Pretoria has been working closely with the South African authorities, the Football Association, supporters groups and the UK police to ensure that arrangements are in place to help visiting fans. The consular network in South Africa has been reinforced with additional staff from the region to deal with an expected increase in consular cases, such as lost passports and victims of traffic accidents or crime. A mobile consular team will travel to each of the venues that England will play in, to enable staff to respond quickly as issues arise.
	While we expect the majority of problems to be routine, we are also prepared to respond in the event of a larger incident. Our high commission in Pretoria and the consulate general in Cape Town took part in a World Cup specific exercise in February that tested their preparedness to respond to a major incident. We also have on stand-by in London a rapid deployment team of specially trained staff who can be sent out to South Africa quickly, to reinforce the response capability of our team on the ground.

Sudan: Olympic Games 2012

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has been notified as to whether the President of Sudan plans to attend the London 2012 Olympics.

Henry Bellingham: Invitations for the London 2012 Olympics have not yet issued. We have no information on proposed attendance from any country.

Thailand: Press Freedom

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received reports on the use of the lèse majesté laws by the government of Thailand in respect of news web sites in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: We understand the particular reverence the people of Thailand have for the monarchy. The Government attach importance to freedom of expression and the respect of fundamental human rights. It should be possible to discuss political reform without fear of coming under the purview of laws that were designed for non political purposes. Human rights groups continue to raise concerns about the use of the 2007 Computer Crimes Act to interfere with the internet on grounds of national security, which has been deemed to include criticism of the monarchy. A significant number of websites were also blocked during recent political unrest under the provisions of the State of Emergency. Our ambassador in Bangkok has raised the issue of freedom of expression a number of times with the Thai authorities. We welcome statements by the Thai Prime Minister that lèse majesté laws should not be used inappropriately.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the use of drone planes in military operations by the governments of other countries.

Alistair Burt: As is the case in the UK, the Governments of other countries use unmanned aerial vehicles in a range of roles and scenarios.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons the upper earnings limit for Child Support Agency assessments has not been uprated since its introduction; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons the upper earnings limit for Child Support Agency assessments has not been uprated since its introduction; and if he will make a statement.
	The upper limit for the statutory child maintenance schemes is a net weekly income of £2,000 per week. It was set at a level sufficiently high to ensure that all children benefit from a reasonable level of maintenance and only those who are already likely to have more complicated financial arrangements are affected. In these cases, the courts are able to make a top-up of maintenance order. This is an important safeguard to ensure that children continue to share in the living standards of non-resident parents when the non-resident parent's income exceeds the upper limit.
	Whilst inflation has meant that a greater number of non-resident parents earn more than the upper earnings limit, their number is still very small and it has therefore not been thought necessary to amend legislation.
	As a consequence of moving from net to gross weekly income in the future scheme we propose that the maximum amount of weekly income taken into account in a maintenance calculation will increase to £3,000. This is broadly the same as the current cap in net income terms and in keeping with the objective that there should not be major differences in liabilities when comparing current scheme and future scheme rules.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Departmental Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the URL is of each website managed by  (a) his Department and  (b) each non-departmental public body and agency for which his Department is responsible.

Chris Grayling: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The following URLs are for the websites currently being managed by DWP:
	
		
			  URL  Website 
			 www.dwp.gov.uk DWP Corporate 
			 www.emetaskforce.gov.uk Ethnic Minority Employment Task force 
		
	
	 (b) The following URLs are for the websites of the non-departmental public bodies and agencies for which DWP are currently responsible:
	
		
			  URL  Website 
			 www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk The Pensions Advisory Service 
			 www.pensions-ombudsman.org.uk The Pensions Ombudsman 
			 www.pensionprotectionfund.org.uk The Pension Protection Fund 
			 www.ppfo.org.uk The Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman 
			 www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk The Pensions Regulator 
			 www.ilf.org.uk Independent Living Funds 
			 www.padeliveryauthority.org.uk Personal Accounts Delivery Authority 
			 www.jobbrokersearch.gov.uk New Deal Disabled People Job Broker Search 
			 www.workingforhealth.gov.uk Working for Health 
			 www.remploy.co.uk Remploy 
			 www.hse.gov.uk Health and Safety Executive 
			 www.cmoptions.org Child Maintenance Options 
			 www.childmaintenance.org Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission 
			 www.csa.gov.uk Child Support Agency 
			 www.officefordisability.gov.uk Office for Disability Issues 
			 www.esf.gov.uk European Social Fund 
			 www.iiac.org.uk Industrial Injuries Advisory Council 
			 www.ssac.org.uk Social Security Advisory Committee 
			 www.ind-case-exam.org.uk Independent Case Examiner 
		
	
	Directgov is a cross-government website, the URL is
	www.direct.gov.uk
	Like all Government Departments, DWP publishes content onto
	www.direct.gov.uk
	although this URL is managed by Directgov.
	DWP are currently implementing the Sir David Varney Transformational Government recommendations for Website Rationalisation. 20 websites have already closed including the Pension Service website which closed September 2009 and Jobcentre Plus which closed March 2010. Content and online services for these websites have moved to
	www.direct.gov.uk
	www.businesslink.gov.uk
	and
	www.dwp.gov.uk
	simplifying access to DWP information.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which Ministers in his Department have been issued with  (a) a Blackberry,  (b) an iPhone,  (c) another make of mobile telephone and  (d) a personal digital assistant supplied by the Department.

Chris Grayling: The following Ministers have been allocated a departmental BlackBerry;
	Chris Grayling
	Maria Miller
	Steve Webb
	No iphones or PDAs have been issued to Ministers.

Departmental Official Cars

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Government  (a) cars and  (b) drivers are allocated to Ministers in his Department.

Chris Grayling: The DWP has introduced new arrangements with the Government Car Service to run a pool of four cars for use by the Department's five Ministers. Where necessary this is supplemented with additional Green Car Services. This will be reviewed over the forthcoming months to ensure value for money.

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the use by Ministers in his Department of cars allocated from  (a) his Department's pool and  (b) the Government car pool which are manufactured in the UK; whether Ministers in his Department are entitled to request the use of a car manufactured in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) The DWP has arranged with the Government Car Service (GCS) to run a pool of four cars and four drivers for use by the Department's five Ministers and the Permanent Secretary. This will be reviewed over the forthcoming months to ensure value for money.
	 (b) Ministers may make use of the GCS under the terms of the recently announced Ministerial Code. This states that
	"the number of Ministers with allocated cars and drivers will be kept to a minimum, taking into account security and other relevant considerations. Other Ministers will be entitled to use cars from the Government Car Service pool as needed."
	For reasons of efficient and economic fleet management, it is not practical for Ministers to specify a UK manufactured vehicle for a journey in a pool service car. The proportion of UK manufactured vehicles in the GCS fleet used by DWP is 25%, with the remainder being Japanese hybrid models.

Departmental Public Appointments

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) political appointments and  (b) other personal appointments he has made since his appointment; and at what estimated annual cost to the public purse.

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many special advisers  (a) he and  (b) each other Minister in his Department (i) has appointed to date and (ii) plans to appoint.

Chris Grayling: I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 3 June 2010,  Official Report, column 99W, and the subsequent publication of the list of special adviser appointments on 10 June 2010.
	Since my appointment the following expert advisers have been seconded to my Department:
	Charlotte Pickles, from the Centre for Social Justice Reform, for a period of six months;
	Stephen Brien (part-time) and Jon Tippell from Oliver Wyman, for a period of three months.

Financial Services: Education

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Government is taking to increase levels of financial capability of members of the public.

Mark Hoban: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are committed to ensuring people have the advice they need to look after their finances and save for the future.
	The Government's coalition agreement announced plans for a free national financial advice service, funded by a social responsibility levy on the financial services industry. This will include a free annual financial healthcheck.
	Under the requirements of the Financial Services Act 2010, the Financial Services Authority established a new independent Consumer Financial Education Body in April 2010. This body has responsibility for raising levels of financial capability across the UK.

Future Jobs Fund

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of young people who have been placed in training, employment or work experience through the Future Jobs Fund in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland  (a) are disabled,  (b) are women,  (c) are from ethnic minorities,  (d) have mental health problems and  (e) were brought up in care.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available.

Future Jobs Fund

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding has been allocated from the Future Jobs Fund to organisations in Chesterfield constituency.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available.

Future Jobs Fund: North East

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent assessment is of the effect on levels of employment in  (a) the North East and  (b) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland of ending the Future Jobs Fund.

Chris Grayling: At up to £6,500 per placement, the Future Jobs Fund is five times more expensive than other aspects of the Young Persons Guarantee, making it poorer value for money. As we emerge from a recession with a huge budget deficit, it is right that the Government take decisive steps to secure long lasting benefits rather than temporary changes to unemployment. Next year we will introduce our new Work Programme, which will bring better targeted and more effective support to young people and the unemployed.

Future Jobs Fund: Wales

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been employed in Wales through the Future Jobs Fund.

Chris Grayling: The latest Official Statistics, covering the period October 2009 to January 2010, show that 690 people in Wales started jobs created through the Future Jobs Fund.

Incapacity Benefit

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what procedure is followed when more than one error is discovered in a targeted audit of a medical report carried out by medical services on behalf of his Department for the purpose of determining a claimant's eligibility for incapacity benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: A medical report that fails to meet medical services standards is amended before it is returned to the decision maker. Subsequent action is determined by the nature of the errors. Minor errors may be corrected by making changes to the original report. More serious errors may require a further examination of the customer.
	Feedback is given to the healthcare professional by a mentor. The timescale for the feedback is determined by the nature of the errors. Serious errors may require immediate feedback. Corrective action is determined by the mentor and medical manager in consultation with the healthcare professional and may include supervised sessions, retraining or further targeted audit.
	Whilst engaging as many as possible in work related activity, and prioritising an active work regime, we are determined to make sure those that need it get the right support.

Poverty: Children

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to reduce levels of child poverty.

Maria Miller: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 14 June 2010,  Official Report, column 587W, to my hon. Friend the Member for City of Chester (Stephen Mosley).

Poverty: Children

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to reduce the level of financial exclusion of the most vulnerable families.

Steve Webb: DWP are developing the capacity of third sector financial service providers, such as credit unions, so that people on low incomes, traditionally not well served by mainstream financial institutions, have access to savings products, affordable credit, basic banking and help with budgeting.
	DWP Financial Inclusion Champions are also working with local authorities, social landlords, the third sector, and intermediary groups to co-ordinate local partnerships, developing financial inclusion at the heart of local communities.

Poverty: Children

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to improve levels of access to public services for deaf children.

Maria Miller: The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 places a duty on providers of services in the public sector [as well as those in the private and voluntary sectors] to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people, which includes deaf children and the duty to make reasonable adjustments has been carried forward in the Equality Act. My Department is working with the Government Equalities Office to ensure that service providers are provided with appropriate advice and guidance on how to fulfil their duties under the Equality Act when it is implemented
	The Disability Equality Duty (DED) requires public authorities to have due regard to disability issues when carrying out their functions and delivering their services. The DED applies across the full range of public sector activity and it means that public authorities should consider the impact of their work on disabled people, and take action to promote equality.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what framework will be applied to assess whether or not benefit claimants have complied with the rules on claiming  (a) income support,  (b) jobseeker's allowance and  (c) employment and support allowance; and what measures will be put in place to ensure sanctions for those in breach of those rules do not affect their children.

Chris Grayling: We strongly believe that the welfare state should combine rights with responsibilities. All benefits have basic entitlement conditions (for example, recipients of jobseeker's allowance have to be available to take up full-time work immediately). Those receiving income support or employment and support allowance who are able to prepare for work or make themselves more work-ready are expected to do so as a condition of receiving benefit.
	Where the customer fails to satisfy the conditions for receiving benefit a Jobcentre Plus Decision Maker will consider whether a sanction is appropriate. The decision maker is impartial and considers evidence from both the adviser and the customer set against regulations, case law and guidance.
	Sanctions are only applied to the individual's personal benefit entitlement-additions for a spouse or partner and premiums for disabled children are not affected; nor is entitlement to housing benefit and council tax benefit. Child tax credits are unaffected by any sanction. Jobseekers in vulnerable groups who are sanctioned may be entitled to hardship payments, where their jobseeker's allowance is paid at a reduced rate. Vulnerable groups include households where there is a dependent child who may be affected by the imposition of a sanction.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Emissions: Housing

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what percentage of total carbon emissions reduction target funding was allocated to Wales in each year since the scheme was launched.

Gregory Barker: The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) is an obligation set at a GB-wide level to achieve savings in the levels of CO2 emitted by householders.
	Energy suppliers are free to decide how best to deliver their carbon target by installing approved household energy efficiency measures anywhere across Great Britain, in the manner they consider most appropriate within the rules of the scheme. There are no regional targets or funding requirements.
	Energy suppliers do not disclose the levels of support that they provide towards the cost of installed measures and regard this as commercially sensitive information.

Carbon Emissions: Housing

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps are taken to ensure that funding for  (a) carbon emissions reduction targets and  (b) the Community Energy Saving Programme is allocated evenly to each constituent part of the UK.

Gregory Barker: The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) are GB-wide obligations on the six largest domestic energy suppliers (and large electricity generators in the case of CESP) to achieve savings in the levels of CO2 emitted by householders. Individual companies' targets are set by the regulator, Ofgem.
	Energy companies are free to decide how best to deliver their carbon target by installing approved household energy efficiency measures anywhere across Great Britain in the manner they consider most appropriate within the rules of the schemes. There are no regional targets or funding requirements.
	CESP does designate eligible areas based on the lowest income areas identified by the Indices of Multiple Deprivation. In England this is based on the lowest 10% income areas and in Scotland and Wales the lowest 15%. In total there are around 4,500 designated CESP areas across Great Britain.

Nuclear Power Stations: Insurance

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much has been spent on underwriting of UK civil nuclear insurance liabilities in the last 10 years.

Charles Hendry: The purchase of insurance to cover nuclear liabilities is a commercial matter for the nuclear operators.
	Government have not provided any underwriting for UK civil nuclear insurance liabilities in the last 10years. Indeed, if Government were to provide such a facility they would do so for a commercial charge.

Nuclear Power: Finance

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much the Government has spent on nuclear projects through the European Commission Joint Research Centre in the last 10 years.

Charles Hendry: The European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) is funded directly by the European Commission under the auspices of the Euratom treaty. Therefore the UK has not directly funded any nuclear projects through the JRC.

Renewable Energy

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his plans are for the future of the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: The Government are committed to increasing the amount of renewable heat in the UK; this is a crucial part of ensuring we meet our renewables targets, cutting carbon and ensuring energy security.
	We are currently looking at the renewable heat incentive (RHI) proposals. Clearly there are benefits to the scheme, but we must also consider the impact of the costs, particularly given the financial constraints we must work within and the potential impact that funding options could have on vulnerable people.
	We are aware that there is uncertainty in the renewable heating industry and want to provide certainty and clarity as quickly as possible, but must make sure that we make the right decision.
	We will look to make an announcement on the future of the proposed scheme as soon as possible.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing: Construction

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to create new community land trusts.

Andrew Stunell: holding answer 14 June 2010
	We are going to introduce community-owned local housing trusts which will enable communities to create new homes for local people. My Department and the Homes and Communities Agency are already working with several existing community land trusts and other community inspired housing groups who are developing schemes for local housing.

Council Housing: Construction

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if his Department will undertake research into the cost-effectiveness of building of homes  (a) by local authorities directly and  (b) under private finance initiative schemes.

Andrew Stunell: Until recently there have been very few homes built by local authorities and no funding provided to them.
	Homes being built under the Local Authority New Build programme are subject to a value for money assessment by the Homes and Communities Agency before receiving support and Housing Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes also go through key value for money assessments. As part of the comprehensive spending review, my Department plans to assess the value for money of Housing PFI and other delivery routes.

Departmental Accountancy

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what ministerial directions were issued to the Accounting Officer of his Department in the last 12 months.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ealing Central and Acton (Angie Bray) on 8 June 2010,  Official Report, column 237W.

Union Flag

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on flying the Union flag each day from each official building for which his Department is responsible.

Bob Neill: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport issues guidance for the flying of the Union flag on UK Government buildings. The guidance encourages the Union flag to be flown 365 days a year, and as a minimum all Departments must fly the Union flag on the 19 special designated days e.g Queen's birthday, Remembrance Day, etc. and other special occasions as required e.g. State Opening of Parliament.
	More information on the guidance is available on the DCMS website:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/honours/7124.aspx
	The Department for Communities and Local Government flies the Union flag 365 days of the year from our HQ office Eland House.

Departmental Official Residences

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether any domestic properties in the gift of the Government have been allocated to the use of Ministers in his Department.

Bob Neill: No Communities and Local Government Ministers have been allocated a property in the gift of Government for use as a domestic property.

Departmental Redundancy Pay

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent estimate is of the annual cost to his Department of redundancy payments for  (a) front line and  (b) other staff employed by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies.

Bob Neill: The cost for redundancies in Communities and Local Government for the financial year 2009-10 was circa £69,000.
	The Department's agencies are the Fire Service College, QE11 Conference Centre
	and Planning Inspectorate.
	The estimated cost of redundancies in the Fire Service College for the financial year 2009-10 was circa £480,000. The Planning Inspectorate and QE11 Conference Centre have not had any redundancies.

Fire Services

Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the regionalisation of the fire service.

Bob Neill: The Government are opposed to the regionalisation of the fire and rescue service.

Home Information Packs

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of jobs likely to be lost as a result of the ending of the requirement to use home information packs.

Andrew Stunell: holding answer 7 June 2010
	It is difficult to make such an estimate. Although HIP providers will be most affected, many may continue to offer other services such as conveyancing, local search provision and the preparation of energy performance certificates.
	Our impact assessment of this, however, estimates that sellers of homes will save over £870 million over a 10 year period.

Home Information Packs

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable he has set for the full abolition of home information packs.

Andrew Stunell: We took swift action to suspend the home information pack (HIP) from 21 May and intend to introduce legislation to abolish the HIP later in the parliamentary Session.

Housing and Planning Delivery Grant

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 10 June 2010, on local government savings package, what the evidential basis is for the statement that the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant has been ineffective.

Bob Neill: Housing and Planning Delivery Grant was designed to incentivise an increase in housing completions and the delivery of local plans. HPDG was first paid in 2008-09. Since then housing completions have fallen from 174,900 in 2007 to 142,400 in 2008 and 118,000 in 2009. Furthermore, local planning authorities local development frameworks have still failed to appear expeditiously with only 18% of local authorities who have adopted a core strategy in the six-year period after the system was introduced.

Housing and Planning Delivery Grant

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much Hartlepool Borough Council received from the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant in each year that it was available.

Bob Neill: Housing and Planning Delivery Grant commenced in 2008-09 and Hartlepool borough council received the following awards:
	
		
			   HPDG award (£) 
			 2008-09 138,926 
			 2009-10 107,000

Housing and Planning Delivery Grant

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 10 June 2010, on local government savings package, what incentive schemes he plans to bring forward to replace the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant.

Andrew Stunell: The Housing and Planning Delivery Grant has proved to be ineffective and excessively complex. We will replace this with incentives for local authorities to deliver sustainable development, including for new homes and businesses.

Housing: Construction

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to revise Planning Policy Statement 3.

Bob Neill: On 9 June 2010, Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing was re-issued with the following amendments:
	The definition of previously developed land in Annex B, now excludes private residential gardens
	The national indicative minimum density of 30 dwellings per hectare was deleted from paragraph 47.
	We have committed, in the Coalition Government document "The Coalition: our programme for government", to publish and present to Parliament a simple and consolidated national planning framework covering all forms of development and setting out national economic, environmental and social priorities. We will set out how we intend to do this in due course.

Housing: Construction

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the minimum proportion of affordable housing required in new housing developments.

Andrew Stunell: The Government does not set a minimum proportion of affordable housing required in new housing developments. Existing guidance in Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing, paragraph 29 asks local planning authorities to set an overall plan-wide target for the amount of affordable housing to be provided and remains unchanged.

Housing: Construction

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the minimum density of new housing developments.

Andrew Stunell: Local authorities should develop their own housing density policies having regard to Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing, paragraph 46. The indicative minimum density target (30 dwellings per hectare) in paragraph 47 of PPS3 was deleted on 9 June 2010. There is therefore no national minimum density policy.

Housing: Empty Property

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to bring empty homes back into use.

Andrew Stunell: We are currently exploring a wide range of measures to bring empty homes back into use.

Local Government Executive

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the proposals on page 12 of the Coalition Agreement on allowing councils to return to the committee system, if he will make it his policy to remove the requirement on councils to consult on adopting an indirectly-elected leader model of government.

Bob Neill: We are committed to allow councils to have the committee system rather than executive structures, if they wish, and intend to seek the necessary powers, including provision about how councils will be able to adopt new governance models, in legislation to devolve greater powers to councils and neighbourhoods and give local communities control over housing and planning decisions which was announced in the Queen's Speech for this parliamentary Session.

Local Government Finance

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the end to ring-fencing of central government funding for local authorities will apply to funding for housing.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement and supporting documents that were laid in the House on 10 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 15-17WS as these provide a detailed breakdown of the central Government grants from which the ringfences have been removed in 2010-11.
	The housing market renewal grant which accounts for £236 million of capital funding is one of the grants that will have the ring-fence removed in 2010-11.

Local Government Finance: West Midlands

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what individual grants to  (a) Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council and  (b) each other local authority in the West Midlands he plans to reduce as part of his Department's planned expenditure reductions; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State laid in the House on 10 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 15-17WS.

Local Government: Public Consultation

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government by what mechanism people in a local authority area will be able to initiate a local referendum.

Andrew Stunell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham East (Chris Leslie) on 8 June,  Official Report, column 132W.

Marinas: Brighton

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to announce his decision on the Explore Living planning appeal in regard to Brighton Marina; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will issue his decision on or before 13 July 2010.

Planning Permission: Appeals

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many judicial reviews under section 288 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 were brought by each local planning authority against the decision of the planning inspectorate in each of the last five years; how many of them were  (a) upheld and  (b) dismissed in relation to each authority; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: The following table sets out the number of challenges made by local authorities to planning appeal decisions made by the Planning Inspectorate in the years 2004-05 to 2008-09. The figures for 2009-10 will be available after 17 June (in order to comply with the Statistics Act 2007) and can be provided on request.
	
		
			  LA name  Upheld  Dismissed  Total 
			  2004-05
			 Dartford Borough Council 1 - 1 
			 Epping Forest District Council - 1 1 
			 Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council 1 - 1 
			 Maidstone Borough Council 1 - 1 
			 Mole Valley District Council - 1 1 
			 North Hertfordshire District Council 1 - 1 
			 Oxford City Council 1 - 1 
			 Poole Borough Council - 1 1 
			 Preston Borough Council 1 - 1 
			 Tandridge District Council 1 - 1 
			 Waverley Borough Council 1 - 1 
			 West Dorset District Council 1 - 1 
			 Wolverhampton Metropolitan Borough Council 1 - 1 
			 Wycombe District Council 3 - 3 
			 
			  2005-06
			 Ashford Borough Council - 1 1 
			 Carrick District Council 1 - 1 
			 Cherwell District Council - 1 1 
			 City Of Westminster Council 1 - 1 
			 Doncaster Borough Council - 1 1 
			 East Hampshire District Council - 1 1 
			 Hart District Council 1 - 1 
			 Lake District Special Planning Board 2 - 2 
			 Leeds City Council 1 - 1 
			 London Borough Of Waltham Forest - 1 1 
			 Royal Borough Of Kingston-Upon-Thames 1 - 1 
			 Rugby Borough Council 1 - 1 
			 Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council - 1 1 
			 Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council - 2 2 
			 Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council 1 - 1 
			 Trafford Borough Council 1 - 1 
			 West Lancashire District Council 1 - 1 
			 Wycombe District Council 1 1 2 
			 
			  2006-07
			 Bath and North East Somerset Council 1 - 1 
			 Bracknell Forest BC - 1 1 
			 Bradford City Council 1 - 1 
			 Darlington Borough Council - 1 1 
			 East Hampshire District Council - 1 1 
			 Horsham District Council 1 - 1 
			 Leeds City Council - 1 1 
			 London Borough Of Bromley - 1 1 
			 London Borough Of Croydon - 1 1 
			 London Borough Of Lambeth 1 - 1 
			 London Borough Of Richmond-Upon-Thames 1 - 1 
			 London Borough Of Southwark - 1 1 
			 Maidstone Borough Council 1 - 1 
			 North Cornwall District Council 1 - 1 
			 North Dorset District Council 1 - 1 
			 North Wiltshire District Council - 1 1 
			 Portsmouth City Council - 1 1 
			 Redditch Borough Council 1 - 1 
			 South Cambridgeshire District Council - 1 1 
			 South Gloucestershire Council - 1 1 
			 Staffordshire Moorlands District Council 1 - 1 
			 Tewkesbury District Council 1 - 1 
			 Wychavon District Council - 1 1 
			 
			  2007-08
			 Brentwood District Council - 1 1 
			 Cheltenham District Council - 1 1 
			 East Dorset District Council 1 - 1 
			 London Borough Of Islington - 1 1 
			 London Borough Of Lambeth - 1 1 
			 Maidstone Borough Council 1 - 1 
			 South Cambridgeshire District Council 1 - 1 
			 South Staffordshire District Council - 1 1 
			 Surrey County Council - 1 1 
			 Waverley Borough Council 1 - 1 
			 
			  2008-09
			 Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council 1 - 1 
			 Canterbury City Council - 1 1 
			 Chelmsford Borough Council 1 - 1 
			 Craven District Council 1 - 1 
			 Derbyshire Dales District Council - 1 1 
			 Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council - 1 1 
			 Guildford Borough Council - 1 1 
			 Harrogate Borough Council 1 - 1 
			 Leeds City Council 1 1 2 
			 London Borough Of Bexley - 1 1 
			 London Borough Of Hackney - 1 1 
			 Mid-Devon District Council 1 - 1 
			 New Forest District Council - 1 1 
			 Royal Borough Of Kensington and Chelsea - 1 1 
			 Royal Borough Of Kingston-Upon-Thames - 1 1 
			 Vale Of White Horse District Council - 1 1 
			 West Dorset District Council - 1 1 
			 West Lindsey District Council 1 - 1 
		
	
	The following table sets out details of all challenges made to Inspector planning appeal decisions in the relevant years.
	
		
			   Upheld  Dismissed  To be decided  Total 
			 2004-05 28 40 0 68 
			 2005-06 30 55 0 85 
			 2006-07 36 62 1 99 
			 2007-08 25 56 4 85 
			 2008-09 27 65 5 97 
			  Note: "Dismissed" indicates challenge either successfully defended by the Secretary of State or where the challenge was withdraw; "Upheld" indicates challenge unsuccessfully defended by the Secretary of State or where the decision was quashed with the consent of the parties.

Regional Development Agencies

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations his Department has received for the retention of regional development agencies since the general election.

Bob Neill: The Department has received no formal representations since the May 2010 general election calling for the retention of the regional development agencies.

Social Rented Housing: Kirklees

Simon Reevell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many people in Kirklees local authority area are on the social housing waiting list; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many people in Kirklees local authority area were on the social housing waiting list in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: Information is available on numbers of households rather than people. The number of households registered on social housing waiting lists in each local authority, each region, and in England, as at 1 April each year from 1997 to 2009, is published on the Communities and Local Government website in table 600. The link for this table is given as follows:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/table600.xls

Social Rented Housing: Kirklees

Simon Reevell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent estimate is of the number of social houses in the Kirklees local authority area which are unoccupied; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: As at 1st April 2009 there were 248 local authority owned dwellings in the Kirklees local authority area that were unoccupied (Source: Communities and Local Government's Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix). As at 31 March 2009 there were 53 registered social landlord (RSL) owned self-contained general needs dwellings that were unoccupied (Source: Tenant Services Authority's Regulatory Statistical Return).

Social Rented Housing: Wigan

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what social housing construction projects are being funded by his Department in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan.

Andrew Stunell: The Homes and Communities Agency is supporting the following schemes for constructing new social housing:
	Bickershaw Colliery
	Mother and Baby Move-on Unit, Lancaster Road, Hindley
	Durham Street, Phases 1 and 2, Wigan
	Byrom Fields, Wigan
	Plot 24, 7 Aveley Gardens, Highfield
	Windermere Gardens, Gordon Street, Leigh
	Gadsbury Fold, Plots 112 and 113, Atherton
	Worthington Park, Plots 49, 54 and 194, Standish
	Kay Close, Scholes
	Etherton Street, Wigan
	Windsor Avenue, Astley
	The Orchards, Wigan
	Greenfields, Billinge.

Social Rented Housing: Wigan

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much finding he plans to provide for capital expenditure on the decent homes programme of Wigan and Leigh Housing.

Andrew Stunell: Wigan and Leigh Housing is an Arms Length Management organisation (ALMO) which manages the council housing stock of Wigan council. The Department does not provide capital funding to ALMOs such as Wigan and Leigh Housing but funds Wigan council directly through the HRA subsidy system.
	Since the Decent Homes programme began in 2001, Wigan council has received £137 million in ALMO supported capital expenditure to undertake a Decent Homes investment programme. There are no plans to fund additional capital expenditure to Wigan council for Decent Homes works beyond the major repairs allowance funding provided in the subsidy system.

Tenant Services Authority

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations he has received on his plans for the Tenant Services Authority.

Grant Shapps: I have received representations on a range of subjects since my appointment as Minister for Housing and Local Government, including on the regulation of social housing. The role of all CLG quangos is being examined closely, but no final decisions have been made about the future of the Tenant Services Authority.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the change in the number of unauthorised traveller sites since 1997.

Andrew Stunell: The number of caravans on unauthorised developments has increased from 887 in 1997 to 2,395 in 2010-an increase of 170% over 13 years.

Wigan

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what public spending projects in  (a) Wigan constituency and  (b) the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan his Department secured Treasury approval between 1 January 2010 and the date of his appointment as Secretary of State.

Bob Neill: The Government are reassessing spending approvals granted between 1 January 2010 and the general election to ensure that they offer good value for money and are consistent with the Government's priorities. Further announcements will be made in due course.

TRANSPORT

Bus Services: Finance

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effects of bus services operators grant levels on bus  (a) usage,  (b) fares and  (c) service.

Norman Baker: Our assessment of the impact of bus service operators grant (BSOG) is that on average usage is 6.7% higher, fares are 6.5% lower and services are 7.1% higher outside London than if BSOG funding were completely withdrawn.

Bus Services: Finance

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to review the operation of bus service operators grant; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: As part of the forthcoming spending review, and in common with all other areas of departmental expenditure, the Government will examine carefully the amount of subsidy paid to the bus industry, and the basis on which it is paid, to ensure that it offers the best value for taxpayers' money, and meets wider Government objectives.

Departmental Flags

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on flying the Union flag each day from each official building for which his Department is responsible.

Norman Baker: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport issues guidance for the flying of the Union flag on UK Government buildings. The guidance encourages the Union flag to be flown 365 days a year, and as a minimum all departments must fly the Union flag on the 19 special designated days eg Queen's birthday, Remembrance Day, etc. and other special occasions as required eg. State Opening of Parliament.
	More information on the guidance is available on the DCMS website:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/honours/7124.aspx
	At the main Department for Transport London headquarters building the Union flag is flown 365 days of the year. The Union flag is flown on designated days at other departmental buildings able to fly flags.

Departmental Official Residences

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any domestic properties in the gift of the Government have been allocated to the use of Ministers in his Department.

Norman Baker: There are no domestic properties in the gift of the Government allocated for the use of Ministers in the Department for Transport.

Northern Rail: Rolling Stock

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the future of the High Level Output Statement agreement on the delivery of carriages for  (a) Northern Rail and  (b) TransPennine Express.

Theresa Villiers: We are assessing our policy for managing crowding on the rail network in the light of likely spending constraints over the next few years. The National Audit Office report "Increasing Passenger Rail Capacity" published on 4 June highlighted a number of problems with delivery of the High Level Output Statement capacity programme. In the light of this report and in anticipation of the current Spending Review, we have announced that proposals by the previous administration for the purchase of additional carriages will be reappraised and assessed for affordability.

Public Transport: Carbon Emissions

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he plans to issue to local authorities on the appraisal process for low carbon local transport schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: In the Coalition Agreement we committed to reform the way decisions are made on which transport projects to prioritise, so that the benefits of low carbon proposals (including light rail schemes) are fully recognised. We will announce details of how these reforms are to be implemented in due course.

Railways: North West

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the electrification of the rail network in the North West.

Theresa Villiers: We are in the early stages of the new Government and Ministers are considering the full range of transport policy. The Government supports rail electrification as it helps to reduce carbon emissions and cut running costs.

Railways: North West

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the introduction of high speed rail on rail services serving Wigan North Western station.

Philip Hammond: The detail of any changes to service patterns on the existing network that may result from a new high speed rail network will be determined in due course, in consultation with passengers and the rail industry. By generating significant additional capacity new high speed lines would free up space on the existing lines, which would ultimately benefit passengers.

Tolls

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the levying of charges on foreign-registered  (a) cars and  (b) heavy goods vehicles using UK roads; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: The Secretary of State has ruled out national road pricing for cars on existing roads. As stated in the Coalition programme for Government, we are working towards the introduction of a new system of HGV road user charging to ensure that foreign heavy goods vehicles contribute to the upkeep of UK roads that they use and to ensure a fairer arrangement for UK hauliers.

Tolls

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the measures required to be introduced during the present Parliament to prepare for any introduction of road pricing after May 2015.

Michael Penning: The Secretary of State has ruled out for the duration of the Parliament national road pricing for cars on existing roads and any preparation for such a scheme beyond that time horizon.
	For this reason no such assessment has been made.

Wigan

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for which public expenditure projects in  (a) Wigan constituency and  (b) the Metropolitan borough of Wigan his Department secured Treasury approval between 1 January 2010 and the date of his appointment as Secretary of State.

Norman Baker: The following transport projects affecting Wigan have gained approval since 1 January 2010:
	Kickstart funding for enhanced bus services on circular routes 664-674 in Wigan. This funding has now been withdrawn as part of the 2010-11 grant reductions to local authorities.
	£298,000 allocated to Wigan metropolitan borough council for emergency highways repair funding to deal with the impacts of the adverse weather during the winter. This funding will be paid in full in 2010-11.
	The Government are re-assessing spending approvals granted between 1 January 2010 and the general election to ensure that they offer good value for money and are consistent with the Government's priorities. Further announcements will be made in due course.

Wigan North Western Station

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the renovation of Wigan North Western rail station; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: The Government recognises the importance of investing in station improvements, and is committed to facilitating this investment through reforms to the way the railways are run.
	Network Rail is responsible for delivering the majority of investment in rail infrastructure across the UK rail network, and does so in accordance with the high level output specification (HLOS) developed by the Department for Transport, which formed the basis on which Network Rail's income was set by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for the current regulatory control period (CP4) in 2008.
	The Government's priority is reducing the deficit. As a company funded largely by Government, Network Rail needs to contribute to this. As part of the £683 million savings in departmental spending in 2010-11, Network Rail is reducing by £50 million the amount that had been provisionally allocated to improving the ten stations identified for improvement in the Station Champions' "Better Rail Stations" report. However, Wigan North Western is not precluded from benefitting from other funding such as the £150 million National Stations Improvement programme.
	The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for specific detail on Network Rail's plans for Wigan North Western station:
	Iain Coucher
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	King's Place
	90 York Way
	London N1 9AG.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Community Policing: Finance

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding for each area under pathfinder neighbourhood agreements  (a) has been allocated in 2010-11 to date and  (b) is planned to be allocated in the remainder of 2010-11.

Nick Herbert: No funding has been provided to neighbourhood agreement pathfinder areas in 2010-11 to date. No decisions have yet been made on the allocation of funding to pathfinder areas in the remainder of 2010-11.

Departmental Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the URL is of each website managed by  (a) her Department and  (b) each non-departmental public body and agency for which her Department is responsible.

Nick Herbert: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The Home Office manages the following websites:
	
		
			   Websites 
			 Home Office www.homeoffice.gov.uk 
			 Neighbourhood policing www.neighbourhoodpolicing.co.uk 
			 National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) www.secureyourfertiliser.gov.uk 
			 Police Could You-recruitment website www.policecouldyou.co.uk 
			 Zahid Mubarek inquiry www.zahidmubarekinquiry.org.uk/ 
			 Warning Service www.warp.gov.uk 
			 Life in the UK Test www.lifeintheuktest.gov.uk 
			 Think U Know-(child safety online campaign) www.thinkuknow.co.uk 
			 National anti fraud network www.nafn.gov.uk 
			 UK visas www.ukvisas.gov.uk 
		
	
	 (b) Non-departmental public body and agency websites for which the Home Office is responsible are as follows:
	
		
			   Websites 
			 Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre www.ceop.gov.uk 
			 Identity and Passport Service www.ips.gov.uk 
			 Independent Safeguarding Authority www.isa-gov.org.uk 
			 Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure www.cpnatinf.gov.uk 
			 Forensic Science Service www.forensic.gov.uk 
			 Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) www.ipcc.gov.uk 
			 Investigatory Powers Tribunal www.ipt-uk.com 
			 Office of Surveillance Commissioners www.surveillancecommissioners.gov.uk 
			 Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) www.oisc.gov.uk 
			 SOCA www.soca.gov.uk 
			 National Police Improvement Agency www.npia.police.uk 
			 Alcohol Education and Research Council (AERC) www.aerc.org.uk 
			 Centre for the protection of the National Infrastructure www.cpni.gov.uk

Firearms

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent estimate is of the incidence of gun-related crime in  (a) rural and  (b) urban areas.

James Brokenshire: Firearms are taken to be involved in a crime if they are fired, used as a blunt instrument or used as a threat. Data only at police force area level on offences involving firearms are submitted to the Home Office by each police force in England and Wales. It is not possible to determine the precise location of offences from this centrally collected information, including whether the specific location is urban or rural.
	Available information, relating to non-air weapon offences, was included in table 2.12 of the most recent chapter on offences involving firearms, published within Home Office Statistical Bulletin 01/10 in January 2010. 60% of all non-air weapon firearm offences in England and Wales in 2008-09 occurred in just three police force areas-Metropolitan, Greater Manchester and West Midlands-while just under a quarter of the population of England and Wales reside in these areas.
	
		
			  Firearm offences (excluding air weapons) by police force area: English regions and Wales, 2004-05 to 2008-09 
			  Recorded crime 
			   Total number of offences  
			  Police force area  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  Offences per 100,000 population, 2008-09 
			 Cleveland 37 41 19 15 34 6.1 
			 Durham 21 18 14 45 22 3.6 
			 Northumbria 182 137 111 78 51 3.6 
			 North East Region 240 196 144 138 107 4.2 
			
			 Cheshire 61 71 41 59 61 6.1 
			 Cumbria 26 18 21 18 28 5.6 
			 Greater Manchester 1,268 1,200 993 1,160 827 32.1 
			 Lancashire 259 372 364 349 207 14.3 
			 Merseyside 491 485 410 398 353 26.2 
			 North West Region 2,105 2,146 1,829 1,984 1,476 21.5 
			
			 Humberside 174 108 117 58 62 6.8 
			 North Yorkshire 13 15 14 17 11 1.4 
			 South Yorkshire 185 301 211 202 144 11.0 
			 West Yorkshire 318 355 319 332 287 13.0 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Region 690 779 661 609 504 9.7 
			
			 Derbyshire 149 109 83 70 75 7.5 
			 Leicestershire 123 89 109 134 127 13.0 
			 Lincolnshire 90 72 45 41 16 2.3 
			 Northamptonshire 113 128 159 164 112 16.4 
			 Nottinghamshire 303 277 196 240 204 19.1 
			 East Midlands Region 778 675 592 649 534 12.1 
			
			 Staffordshire 144 128 94 123 44 4.1 
			 Warwickshire 73 80 90 107 56 10.6 
			 West Mercia 151 115 58 124 79 6.6 
			 West Midlands 959 946 979 974 987 37.7 
			 West Midlands Region 1,327 1,269 1,221 1,328 1,166 21.6 
			
			 Bedfordshire 94 103 86 83 64 10.6 
			 Cambridgeshire 50 34 24 30 34 4.4 
			 Essex 193 280 255 260 176 10.3 
			 Hertfordshire 139 114 89 112 68 6.3 
			 Norfolk 23 29 34 43 29 3.4 
			 Suffolk 59 58 42 38 25 3.5 
			 East of England Region 558 618 530 566 396 6.9 
			
			 London, City of(1) 3 1 4 3 3 n/a 
			 Metropolitan 3,694 3,883 3,327 3,396 3,087 40.6 
			 London Region 3,697 3,884 3,331 3,399 3,090 40.6 
			
			 Hampshire 148 85 122 100 80 4.3 
			 Kent 100 142 92 82 93 5.6 
			 Surrey 63 87 60 70 66 6.0 
			 Sussex 67 85 84 69 65 4.2 
			 Thames Valley 437 401 332 322 214 9.7 
			 South East Region 815 800 690 643 518 6.2 
			
			 Avon and Somerset 196 167 138 116 95 6.0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 189 174 132 111 70 4.2 
			 Dorset 49 27 28 21 16 2.3 
			 Gloucestershire 87 77 65 43 52 8.9 
			 Wiltshire 49 43 69 49 45 6.9 
			 South West Region 570 488 432 340 278 5.3 
			
			 Dyfed-Powys 40 21 17 25 7 1.4 
			 Gwent 85 53 33 47 36 6.4 
			 North Wales 60 88 98 53 42 6.2 
			 South Wales 104 71 67 84 54 4.4 
			 Wales 289 233 215 209 139 4.6 
			
			 England and Wales 11,069 11,088 9,645 9,865 8,208 15.1 
			 n/a = Not available. (1) Not available. Data for London Region includes the City of London.

Forensic Science Service

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed by the Forensic Science Service in each financial year since 2005-06.

James Brokenshire: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Forensic Science Service-staffing figures 
			   Average number of full-time equivalent staff employed 
			 2005-06 2,484 
			 2006-07 2,357 
			 2007-08 2,024 
			 2008-09 1,856 
			 2009-10 1,797 
			  Note: Based on figures reported in the annual report and accounts, annualised for the first two years due to differing accounting periods.

Forensic Science Service

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) voluntary and  (b) involuntary redundancies there were from the Forensic Science Service in 2009-10.

James Brokenshire: There were no voluntary redundancies and 34 compulsory redundancies.

Forensic Science Service

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staffed locations of the Forensic Science Service there were in each financial year since 2005-06.

James Brokenshire: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Forensic Science Service Ltd-number of staffed locations 
			   Number of staffed locations 
			 2005-06 12 
			 2006-07 14 
			 2007-08 13 
			 2008-09 13 
			 2009-10 13

Gary McKinnon

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the request from the US Administration for the extradition of Gary McKinnon.

Nick Herbert: The UK's policy and practice is to give maximum assistance to all of its extradition partners in accordance with domestic law and international obligations. It expects no less in return. In Mr McKinnon's case, proceedings under the Extradition Act 2003 are now at an end, but the Government have agreed to look afresh at whether new evidence demonstrates that extradition would breach Mr McKinnon's human rights. To that end, we are considering further representations which Mr McKinnon's solicitors submitted to us on 8 June.
	More generally, the Government have undertaken to review the 2003 Act and the UK-USA Extradition treaty.

Immobilisation of Vehicles

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to introduce a code of practice for wheelclampers.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government included in their Coalition Agreement, published on 12 May, a commitment to tackle rogue private sector wheel clampers. An announcement on how we will do this will be made in due course.

Members: Security

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has had discussions with the Association of Chief Police Officers on advice to hon. Members on security measures at constituency offices; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has had discussions with representatives of ACPO and the police service on a range of issues. In the course of these, my right hon. Friend has been briefed on the action which the police are taking in the light of the incident involving the hon. Member for East Ham at his Newham constituency office on 14 May 2010. The briefing my right hon. Friend received included details on the liaison that has taken place between the police and the parliamentary authorities to ensure that hon. Members are given appropriate advice and support on security measures at constituency offices.

Passports: Lost Property

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated cost of Hampshire Constabulary running the airfield at HMS Daedalus in Lee-on-the-Solent is for 2010-11, identifying separately the cost of employment of the Air Support Unit officers and staff and associated expenses.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 14 June 2010
	The information requested is not held centrally. The costs of running the airfield at HMS Daedalus in Lee-on-the-Solent and the cost of employing Air Support Unit officers and staff are matters for the chief constable of Hampshire.

Police: Ports

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budget for the UK Port Police in  (a) the UK and  (b) the Port of Dover (i) was in each year from 2007-08 to 2009-10 and (ii) is estimated to be in 2010-11.

Nick Herbert: The information is as follows:
	 (a) Nine UK sea ports maintain their own independent port police force entirely funded by the individual port. However, responsibility for policing the UK's sea and air ports lies primarily with the geographic police force in whose territory a port lies. There are around 1,400 special branch officers working at the UK's major air and sea ports. There are also around 1,600 uniformed police patrolling UK ports, who are responsible for protective security and general policing. These officers can be supported on general policing by further officers from the local force. All these officers are drawn from the police force within whose territory the port sits: there is not a specific ports policing budget.
	 (b) The port of Dover police is independent police force and its budget is a matter for the Dover Harbour Board.

Police: Ports

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the future of the Port Police.

Nick Herbert: None-this is a matter for the nine ports involved. Nevertheless, on the important matter of border policing in general the coalition agreement sets out a commitment to create a dedicated border police force, as part of a refocused Serious Organised Crime Agency, to enhance national security, improve immigration controls and crack down on the trafficking of people, weapons and drugs. It will also tackle the smuggling and illegal trade on wildlife.

Police: Rural Areas

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to improve policing in rural areas.

Nick Herbert: The Government are committed to ensuring that all communities, including those in rural areas, receive a high quality policing service that meets local priorities. Effective neighbourhood policing by police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) provides an important policing presence in rural, as well as urban areas. The programme set out by the Coalition explains our approach to improving policing, including:
	the introduction of directly elected individuals, giving the public a greater voice to ensure their priorities are reflected;
	regular beat meetings where residents can hold the police to account;
	the publication of crime maps showing the public what is happening in their streets, villages and towns; and
	cutting through the bureaucracy that hinders the police, and introducing better technology, so that the police can spend more time out in their communities.
	We will also work to enable our citizens to play a more active part in keeping their own neighbourhoods safe, for example through the Neighbourhood and Farm Watch schemes that are in place in many rural areas.

Rape

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department plans to take to increase conviction rates in cases of rape.

James Brokenshire: We need to increase the number of successful rape prosecutions and send more rapists to jail. The current conviction rate in cases of rape proceeded against in court stands at 38%.
	As we have made clear, the victim in rape cases remains our priority and we welcome many of the improvements introduced by the police and the Crown Prosecution Service in recent years, intended to improve both victim care and the number of cases reaching court. These include specially trained officers and prosecutors, dedicated rape units within police force areas and investment in Sexual Assault Referral Centres for the improved collection of forensic evidence and provision of immediate crisis and medial care to victims.
	It is important, however, that victims have access to longer term support and we have therefore committed to providing sustainable support for rape crisis centres.
	Over the coming months, we shall work with partners to consider what more needs to be done to ensure that perpetrators of rape are brought to justice.

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of whether the reservation made by the previous Government to the UN Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities on disabled people's rights to liberty of movement is compatible with the object and purpose of the Convention; and when her Department plans to conduct a review of the reservation.

Damian Green: This Administration has made no separate assessment on this specific issue.
	The Home Office is currently reviewing the continuing need for the reservation, and will shortly invite interested parties to contribute to this.

Wigan

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what public expenditure projects within  (a) Wigan constituency and  (b) the Metropolitan borough of Wigan her Department had secured Treasury approval between 1 January 2010 and the date of her appointment as Secretary of State.

Nick Herbert: The Government are re-assessing spending approvals granted between 1 January 2010 and the general election to ensure that they offer good value for money and are consistent with the Government's priorities. Further announcements will be made in due course.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Apprentices

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many people in  (a) Wigan constituency,  (b) the North West region and  (c) England are undertaking an apprenticeship;
	(2)  how many people in  (a) Wigan constituency,  (b) the North West region and  (c) England are undertaking an advanced apprenticeship;
	(3)  how many people in  (a) Wigan constituency,  (b) the North West region and  (c) England are undertaking a higher apprenticeship.

John Hayes: Table 1 shows the number of Apprenticeship (Level 2), Advanced Apprenticeship (Level 3) and Higher Level Apprenticeship (Level 4) programme starts in Wigan parliamentary constituency, the north-west Government office region and England for 2008/09, the latest year for which complete data are available.
	
		
			  Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts by level and geography, 2008-09. 
			   Apprenticeships (Level 2)  Advanced Apprenticeships (Level 3)  Higher level Apprenticeships (Level 4)  Total 
			 Wigan parliamentary constituency 300 160 - 460 
			 North-west 23,600 12,900 - 36,500 
			 England 158,500 81,300 200 239,900 
			  Notes: 1. Figures for Wigan parliamentary constituency are rounded to the nearest 10. All other figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Figures are based upon home postcode of the learner. 3. '-' Indicates a base value of less than five for parliamentary constituency and less than 50 for Government office region. 4. The England figure contains a small amount of counts where the postcode of the learner is outside England and also learners where the postcode is not known.  Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on the number of Apprenticeship starts by parliamentary constituency, local authority, Government office region and for England is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 24 March, and revised on 22 April:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/sfrmar10

Apprentices

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on the level of demand for apprenticeships in  (a) engineering and  (b) manufacturing.

John Hayes: holding answer 14 June 2010
	 Ministers and officials have received a number of representations about apprenticeships including those in engineering and manufacturing. The Government are committed to increasing the number of apprenticeships, in particular advanced apprenticeships, to meet the needs of employers in an advanced modern economy. We know also that the demand from young people and adults for good quality employer-owned apprenticeships is high. The Government's decision to redeploy £150 million of Train to Gain funds for 2010-11, creating an additional 50,000 adult places, demonstrates our commitment to high-quality skills. Apprenticeships are founded on partnerships so it is important that employers, including those in manufacturing and engineering, take up these new opportunities and offer apprenticeship places to secure a new generation of highly skilled employees and we will be encouraging them to do so.

Building Colleges for the Future Programme

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what criteria will be applied to decide on provision of additional capital funding for further education colleges.

John Hayes: The Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 24 May announced that £50 million of Train to Gain funding would be reallocated to support a range of capital infrastructure projects prioritising those colleges who have not previously benefitted significantly from previous further education capital investment.
	The funding is to be spent in 2010-11 and will result in genuine benefits to colleges and learners. The Skills Funding Agency has already begun work on a robust process to ensure value for money and, most importantly, the best outcomes for learners. As part of this process the Agency has consulted the sector through the Association of Colleges' Capital Reference Group to ensure that the views of the sector inform this process.
	The Skills Funding Agency will be inviting colleges to apply shortly with a view to successful projects starting on site as soon as is practicable.

Departmental Travel

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the  (a) name and  (b) version is of each computer software package used by his Department to calculate travel costs.

Edward Davey: The Department does not own any computer software packages to calculate travel costs. The Department uses the Buying Solutions travel frameworks to book travel for air, rail car hire and accommodation.
	Buying Solutions travel frameworks offer substantial savings to Government Departments on travel spend by offering specially negotiated Government rates not available outside of the frameworks.

Economic Situation

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of the recent recession on  (a) the West Midlands and  (b) other regions of England; and what steps he plans to take in the West Midlands to alleviate these effects in areas within his Department's responsibilities.

Mark Prisk: Early data suggests that the recession may have had a significant impact on those areas that were already lagging, with the regions and sub-regions with the highest initial unemployment experiencing the highest increases. For example latest data for 2008 indicates that GVA growth between 2007 and 2008 was 3.0% in the West Midlands, below the English average of 3.5% and the lowest of the English regions; and in the period from 2007 to 2009, the West Midlands saw the largest percentage point increase in the unemployment rate of all the English regions, rising by 4.6 ppts compared to the English average of 2.6 ppts.
	The Government will shortly be announcing details of its proposals for local enterprise partnerships, which are joint local authority-business bodies to promote local economic development. These may take the form of existing RDAs in areas where they are popular.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the future provision of bonuses to students who meet targets related to attendance and achievement.

Nick Gibb: I have been asked to reply.
	It is for schools to decide on whether to use rewards and incentives with their pupils.

Higher Education: Admissions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had on post-qualification admissions to higher education.

David Willetts: I have had no recent discussions on post-qualification admissions to higher education.

Higher Education: Student Numbers

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people from Wigan constituency entered higher education in each year since 1996.

David Willetts: The number of entrants from Wigan constituency to UK higher education institutions are shown in the table. Figures are provided for the academic years 1996/97 to 2008/09. Information for the 2009/10 academic year will be available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in January 2011.
	
		
			  Entrants( 1)  from Wigan constituency( 2) -UK higher education institutions( 3) , academic years 1996/97 to 2008/09 
			  Academic year  Entrants 
			 1996/97 595 
			 1997/98 595 
			 1998/99 640 
			 1999/2000 715 
			 2000/01 665 
			 2001/02 725 
			 2002/03 775 
			 2003/04 830 
			 2004/05 795 
			 2005/06 905 
			 2006/07 805 
			 2007/08 665 
			 2008/09 905 
			 (1) Covers all-aged undergraduate and postgraduate entrants to full-time and part-time courses. (2) The table does not include entrants where the constituency of the student cannot be established due to missing or invalid postcode information. (3) Excludes the Open University due to inconsistencies in their coding of entrants across the time series.  Note: Figures are on a HESA snapshot basis as at 1 December and are rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

Higher Education: Student Numbers

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to review the number of undergraduate student places; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: We have secured funding for an additional 10,000 undergraduate and foundation degree places in 2010-11. Beyond that we will assess the requirement for student places in the context of our response to the Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance chaired by Lord Browne and the next spending review. In doing so we will want to ensure that the quality of higher education courses is not diminished.

Regional Development Agencies

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what  (a) in-house and  (b) external lobbying activity (i) each regional development agency and (ii) the National Secretariat for Regional Development Agencies has undertaken for the retention of regional development agencies since the general election.

Mark Prisk: Cabinet Office guidance on NDPBs is that it will always be an improper use of public funds for NDPBs to employ PR or other consultants to lobby Parliament or Government Departments in an attempt to influence government policy or obtain higher funding. I will ensure that all RDA chief executives are reminded of this responsibility.

Regional Development Agencies

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which public affairs firms have been hired by  (a) each regional development agency and  (b) the National Secretariat for Regional Development Agencies in the last 12 months.

Mark Prisk: No public affairs firms have been hired by any regional development agency or the regional development agency national secretariat in the last 12 months.

Train to Gain Programme: West Midlands

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to alter previously planned expenditure on the Train to Gain programme in the West Midlands in  (a) 2010-11 and  (b) 2011-12.

John Hayes: We have announced our intention to immediately reallocate £200 million of Train to Gain funding. This will provide 50,000 new adult apprenticeship places and an extra £50 million in further education infrastructure projects.
	The Skills Funding Agency is now looking to implement this change. However, it is not possible at this time to provide information on the impact it may have on individual institutions in the West Midlands, and therefore spend in a particular region.

Union Learning Fund

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many  (a) disabled people,  (b) people from ethnic minorities,  (c) females and  (d) young people have received assistance from the Union Learning Fund.

John Hayes: The Union Learning Fund (ULF) is overseen by unionlearn, the TUC's learning and skills arm, under a grant arrangement with the Department. Information on the assistance provided to these groups of learners is currently not held in respect of all ULF activity. However, it is available where ULF projects are directly involved in providing learning opportunities through U-net, unionlearn's network of online learning centres. The latest full year information, provided by the TUC, for 2006/07 to 2008/09 shows that out of a total of 17,240 course participants, 8,311 (48.2%) were female, 1,802 (10.5%) were from an ethnic minority, 778 (4.5%) were disabled and 1,193 (6.9%) were young workers (under 25). In April 2010 a new contractual requirement was introduced for all ULF projects to record this level of information to cover all areas of activity.
	U-net was ranked by Ofsted (in February 2009) to be among the best learning providers in the country with a:
	"strong ethos to widen participation, promote social inclusion and equality of opportunity".
	Success rates for Black learners rose from 54% in 2007/08 to 81.8% in 2008/09 and for Asian learners from 70.2% to 82.1%-well above the national average.

Vocational Training: Teachers

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department plans to respond to the recommendations of the Skills Commission on teacher training in vocational education.

John Hayes: I have asked my officials to consider the Skills Commission's recommendations. The report also refers to areas of policy that are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Education. I will respond to the recommendations after they have been considered jointly by our two Departments.

Vocational Training: West Midlands

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to increase the skills level of the workforce in  (a) Dudley North constituency,  (b) the borough of Dudley and  (c) the West Midlands.

John Hayes: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is seeking to drive up the skills levels of the workforce by directing public funding where it will bring the clearest benefits.
	We will also make sure that employers and individuals have the information they need to make the best choices about investing in training. We have begun to rebalance skills provision by redeploying £150 million of Train to Gain funding to create 50,000 high-quality Apprenticeship places, focused on small and medium sized enterprises. We are also taking action to set colleges and training organisations free from excessive bureaucracy and direct state control, to give them the freedom to respond better to local needs.
	The Skills Funding Agency is responsible for the delivery of public funds for skills training, including Apprenticeships. Dudley and the West Midlands will benefit from the refocusing of funding towards higher-quality training with clearer benefits. Over £31 million of public funding will support skills training in the Dudley area in 2010/11 covering a diverse range of programmes to meet the needs of individuals and employers, including apprentices. Learners resident in the Dudley North constituency are accessing these opportunities and others in the wider region to raise their skill levels and improve their lives. £509 million will support skills training in the wider West Midlands region.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Flags

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on flying the Union flag each day from each official building for which his Department is responsible.

Andrew Mitchell: At our UK headquarters in East Kilbride, the Department for International Development (DFID) has chosen to fly the Union flag on a daily basis from its highest centre pole. DFID's UK headquarters in London does not have a flagpole and therefore we are unable to fly the Union flag at this building. The decision on flying the Union flag in our country offices depends on whether they have a flagpole. I am investigating the possibility of procuring a second hand flagpole at minimum cost for DFID's UK headquarters in London.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he expects to allocate funding from his Department to  (a) peacekeeping and  (b) military operations in the next 12 months.

Andrew Mitchell: I do not intend to allocate funds from the Department for International Development's (DFID's) budget to peacekeeping or military operations in the next 12 months.
	DFID resources are not spent on UK military operations.
	Funding for the UK's legal obligation to contribute to international peacekeeping will continue to be met through the peacekeeping budget, an annual claim on the Treasury Reserve. UK discretionary peacekeeping activity, will continue to be funded by the tri-departmental Conflict Pool, which is allocated to DFID, Ministry of Defence (MOD), and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) by the Treasury separately from core departmental budgets.

Developing Countries: Children

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he plans to take to reduce levels of child poverty in developing countries.

Andrew Mitchell: In the coming months the Department for International Development (DFID) will be reviewing its aid programme to determine how we can achieve better value for money for the taxpayer and accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
	The UK is committed to helping achieve the MDGs, which will reduce child poverty in developing countries. For example as part of our work toward the education MDGs of universal primary education and gender parity in all levels of education, we are funding five million children to go to primary school.

Developing Countries: Climate Change

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when funding his Department expects to allocate for climate adaptation in the next 12 months.

Andrew Mitchell: I expect the United Kingdom to spend approximately £300 million this year on climate adaptation in developing countries, as part of the Fast Start commitment agreed at Copenhagen. This will help poor people to cope with the impact of climate change, including more frequent droughts and floods. For example in Bangladesh UKaid is helping to protect more than 400,000 very poor people from floods by raising their homesteads onto earth platforms.

EDUCATION

Academies: Public Consultation

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to ensure that the views of staff and their trade unions are taken into account in the establishment of academy schools.

Nick Gibb: The governing body, which includes staff representation, must agree that the school can become an academy before an application is made. Guidance issued for schools wishing to convert to an academy provides further detailed information and is available at:
	www.education.gov.uk/academies
	In addition, during the conversion process, the current employer of school staff (either the local authority or governing body) will be required to conduct a TUPE consultation with all staff and the unions as part of the staff transfer process.

Children: Databases

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children in each local education authority  (a) are and  (b) are not recorded on the ContactPoint database.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 14 June 2010
	ContactPoint was designed to hold basic information on every child in England, by gathering data from a range of national and local data sources. The system is not set up to run reports on numbers of children in each local authority.

Children: Internet

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to maintain the Home Access programme for disabled children and those from low income backgrounds following the closure of BECTA.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 8 June 2010
	The Home Access programme will continue until the total available for grants has been awarded. The programme includes full assistive technology provision for learners with special educational needs (SEN) which is expected to continue until March 2011.

Departmental Electronic Equipment

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many  (a) plasma and  (b) LCD televisions there are in ministerial offices in his Department.

Michael Gove: There are five plasma and one LCD televisions in Ministers' offices at the Department for Education. These were installed between February and July 2007.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when and in what form he plans to publish a list of all items of expenditure by his Department over £25,000.

Michael Gove: The Prime Minister has written to Cabinet Ministers reiterating transparency commitments made in the Coalition Programme for Government, and setting out a timetable for achieving them. In particular, all new items of central Government spending over £25,000 will be published online in an open format from November 2010.

Departmental Redundancy Pay

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his most recent estimate is of the annual cost to his Department of redundancy payments for  (a) front line and  (b) other staff.

Michael Gove: The Department for Education and its predecessor, the Department for Children Schools and Families, has made no employees redundant.
	The Department is subject to the same recruitment restrictions as all other Government Departments. It has not yet identified any necessary additional reductions to its non-frontline staff and therefore cannot provide any estimate in relation to cost.
	The cost to the Department of any release payments this year will be disclosed in the Department's Resource Accounts for 2010/11.

Departmental Reorganisation

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his estimate is of the cost of renaming his Department.

Michael Gove: The re-naming of the Department for Education cost £5,250.

Departmental Reorganisation

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of renaming his Department.

Michael Gove: holding answer 7 June 2010
	The re-naming of the Department for Education cost £5,250.

Departmental Reorganisation

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the cost of renaming his Department; and whether all branded facilities and services of his Department are to be re-branded.

Michael Gove: The re-naming of the Department for Education cost £5,250. New facilities and services will use the Department for Education brand where appropriate. We will take individual decisions about branding for existing facilities and services in order to minimise costs and waste.

Free Schools

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many full-time civil servants in his Department have been allocated to work on policy development and programme delivery in relation to free schools.

Michael Gove: Free schools will open as academies. There are currently around 115 civil servants in the Department for Education engaged directly in work on policy development and programme delivery related to academy schools. There is a substantial number of other civil servants in the Department who make a significant contribution to policy development and programme delivery related to academy schools as part of their wider role. In addition there are 47 staff in the Young People's Learning Agency involved in funding and supporting open academies.

JUSTICE

Self-defence Law

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to bring forward proposals to change the law on self-defence.

Nick Herbert: We are reviewing the law and its interpretation carefully and will explore all options before bringing forward proposals. We must make sure that the responsible citizen acting in self defence or the prevention of crime has the appropriate level of legal protection.

Bilingual Juries (Wales)

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent consideration he has given to empanelling bilingual juries in courts in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Djanogly: I am aware that the previous Government consulted on this issue and announced in March this year their decision to make no change to the existing position. According to 2001 census results 21% of people in Wales said they could speak Welsh. That would amount to the exclusion, in every case involving a bilingual jury, of about four fifths of the population of Wales. I believe that juries should be selected randomly from the community and am not convinced that departing from that principle would be justified in this instance.

Victims' Groups

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to increase the level of involvement of victims' groups in the criminal justice system.

Nick Herbert: As part of our ambition to build the Big Society we are committed to putting more power and opportunity into people's hands. I have asked my officials for advice on how we take a fresh look at the provision of services to victims and I am particularly keen that this includes more meaningful involvement of victims groups.

Guilty Pleas (Pre-court)

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps are being taken to encourage defendants to enter guilty pleas before cases come to court.

Crispin Blunt: It is beneficial to victims who would otherwise have to give evidence, if defendants who are guilty plead guilty at the earliest opportunity. The main means of encouraging defendants to do so is the long-standing practice of recognising timely pleas of guilty with a reduction in sentence. It is not possible to plead guilty before the first appearance in court, but it is open to suspects to co-operate when they are interviewed by the police. It is of considerable advantage to the whole Criminal Justice System, witnesses and the taxpayer if suspects co-operate in this way. There is a case for treating those who do more favourably and it is open to the Sentencing Council to consider this.

Bill of Rights

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the Commission to investigate the creation of a British Bill of Rights will be appointed.

Kenneth Clarke: The Government will make a statement to Parliament on the appointment of the Commission on a Bill of Rights in due course.

Bill of Rights

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  whether the Government's proposed British Bill of Rights will include provision for the protection of economic and social rights;
	(2)  when he will announce the timetable for the Government's plan to establish a commission to investigate the creation of a British Bill of Rights.

Kenneth Clarke: The Government will make a statement to Parliament on the terms of reference and appointment of the Commission on a Bill of Rights in due course.

Departmental Ministerial Appointments

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many special advisers  (a) he and  (b) each other Minister in his Department (i) has appointed to date and (ii) plans to appoint;

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many  (a) political appointments and  (b) other personal appointments he has made since his appointment; and at what estimated annual cost to the public purse.

Kenneth Clarke: I refer the hon. Members to the written answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 3 June 2010,  Official Report, column 99W. I also refer to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's written ministerial statement on 10 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 32-34WS.

Departmental Official Residences

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether any domestic properties in the gift of the Government have been allocated to the use of Ministers in his Department.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice has not allocated any domestic properties for the use of Ministers.

Legal Aid Scheme

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice who will carry out his Department's planned review of legal aid.

Kenneth Clarke: We set out in "The Coalition: our programme for Government" that we will undertake a fundamental review of legal aid to make it work more efficiently. I am considering how best to take this work forward and will make a statement in due course.

Prisoners: Legal Aid Scheme

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what regulations govern unsolicited communications from law firms advertising their services to prison inmates.

Crispin Blunt: Solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the regulatory arm of the Law Society. The use of advertisements and other forms of publicity by solicitors is regulated by its Solicitors' Code of Conduct 2007. The Code provides that firms are generally free to advertise their services, subject to the requirements of rule 7. Rule 7 of the Code permits solicitors to publicise their firms in a number of ways-ensuring that clients and the public have appropriate information about the firm and the way it is regulated; but prohibiting misleading publicity and inappropriate approaches for business.
	Prisoners' incoming mail is examined for illicit enclosures but is not routinely read. There are no specific rules relating to unsolicited correspondence to named prisoners from law firms advertising their services.
	Prisons do not distribute unsolicited mail that is not addressed to a named prisoner. Advertisements from law firms are commonly carried in specialist prisoner newspapers which are made available for prisoners to pick up in communal areas.

Prisoners: Legal Aid Scheme

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will review his policy on access to legal aid for prisoners seeking a reduction in the length of their sentences.

Jonathan Djanogly: Under the existing arrangements, prisoners who wish to appeal against their sentence, to ask the Criminal Cases Review Commission to refer their sentence to the Court of Appeal, or to seek a review of their minimum term of imprisonment, are eligible for legal aid, subject to passing the relevant merits and means tests.
	The Government set out in 'The Coalition: our programme for government' that it will undertake a fundamental review of legal aid to make it work more efficiently. We are considering how best to take this work forward and will make a statement in due course.

Rape: Bail

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what proportion of those charged with rape in England and Wales were granted  (a) conditional and  (b) unconditional bail between charge and verdict in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what proportion of those charged with rape in England and Wales were granted  (a) conditional and  (b) unconditional bail between arrest and charge in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: The estimated proportion of defendants proceeded against for rape (including attempted rape) at magistrates courts who were granted bail and the estimated proportion tried for rape at the Crown Court who were granted bail, in England and Wales 2004 to 2008 (latest available) is shown in Table 1.
	The estimated proportion of defendants proceeded against for rape (including attempted rape) at magistrates courts who were granted bail by the police following their arrest in England and Wales in each year between 2004 and 2008 (latest available) is shown in Table 2.
	The Court Proceedings Database held by the Ministry of Justice relating to the use of bail by the police and courts does not record whether conditions are attached to bail in cases where bail is granted by either the police or courts.
	
		
			  Table 1: The estimated( 1)  proportion of defendants proceeded against for rape( 2)  at magistrates courts( 3)  who were granted bail( 4)  and the estimated proportion tried for rape at the Crown Court who were granted bail in England and Wales, 2004-08( 5,6) 
			  Percentage 
			  Court type  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008( 7) 
			 Magistrates 21 19 17 19 23 
			 Crown 39 39 40 42 40 
			 (1) It is known that in some police force areas, information on remand decisions is not always readily available to those coding court proceedings returns. In certain cases, the return may be mistakenly coded as if no remand had taken place. For magistrates court proceedings, the number of remands and more importantly, the number which are in custody, are believed to be under-recorded in total. As the breakdown of remands into bail and custody cases for a number of forces is not accurate for a number of forces, estimates have to be made to provide national figures. (2) Includes rape and attempted rape of males and females. (3) Excludes remands/bail data relating to Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. (4) Excludes those remanded in custody at any stage of proceedings at magistrates and Crown courts who may also have been given bail at some stage of those proceedings. (5) Proportions for 2008 have been estimated based on pre-committal remand status. (6) The figures presented in this table have been computed using data that exclude those defendants who fail to appear to bail or summons. (7) Magistrates courts data for 2008 are provisional and subject to change.  Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Prepared by Justice Statistics Analytical Services 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: The estimated( 1)  proportion of defendants proceeded against for rape( 2)  at magistrates courts( 3)  who were granted bail( 4)  by the police following their arrest prior to appearing in court, England and Wales, 2004-08( 5,6) 
			  Percentage 
			  Court type  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008( 7) 
			 Magistrates 62 61 59 63 48 
			 (1) It is known that in some police force areas, information on remand decisions is not always readily available to those coding court proceedings returns. In certain cases, the return may be mistakenly coded as if no remand had taken place. For magistrates court proceedings, the number of remands and more importantly, the number which are in custody, are believed to be under-recorded in total. As the breakdown of remands into bail and custody cases for a number of forces is not accurate for a number of forces, estimates have to be made to provide national figures. (2) Includes rape and attempted rape of males and females. (3) Excludes remands/bail data relating to Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. (4) Excludes those remanded in custody at any stage of proceedings at magistrates and Crown courts who may also have been given bail at some stage of those proceedings. (5) Proportions for 2004-08 have been estimated based on pre-committal remand status. (6) The figures presented in this table have been computed using data that exclude those defendants who fail to appear to bail or summons. (7) Indicates that the data are provisional and subject to change.  Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source Prepared by Justice Statistics Analytical Services.

Rape: Disclosure of Information

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans the Government has to provide for anonymity of those accused of rape  (a) between arrest and charge,  (b) between charge and trial and  (c) during trial.

Crispin Blunt: The Government have made clear that they will carefully consider all the options before bringing proposals to Parliament.

Roy Whiting

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how much was spent from the public purse on legal aid to Roy Whiting during his appeal seeking reduction of the length of his sentence;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the appeal by Roy Whiting against the length of his sentence.

Jonathan Djanogly: The full cost to the public purse of the High Court review of Roy Whiting's minimum term of imprisonment is not yet known, as his legal representatives have up to three months within which to submit their claim for legal aid costs following the conclusion of the case. I will write to the hon. Member once further information is available.

Wigan

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what public expenditure projects within  (a) Wigan constituency and  (b) the Metropolitan borough of Wigan his Department had secured Treasury approval between 1 January 2010 and the date of his appointment as Secretary of State.

Jonathan Djanogly: I have reviewed the significant new spending decisions taken between 1 January 2010 and the general election, to ensure that they offer good value for money and are consistent with the Government's priorities. No specific spending projects have been approved within  (a) Wigan constituency or  (b) the Metropolitan borough of Wigan. However, many of the spending decisions are for national initiatives or programmes, which may have an impact for Wigan constituents.
	Further announcements will be made in due course.

Young Offender Institutions: Social Services

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) filled and  (b) vacant social worker posts there are in each young offender institution.

Crispin Blunt: There is a statutory duty on local authorities to provide social work services to children in need. It is a matter for local authorities how they choose to fulfil these duties. In 2005, a number of dedicated social worker posts in young offender institutions (YOIs) were established by a centrally funded pilot scheme; since this funding came to an end in 2009, the provision of social work services has been determined on a case by case basis at a local level, therefore meaningful data is not available.

HEALTH

Cancer: Screening

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to introduce a cancer screening programme using the oncimmune blood test; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The oncimmune blood test is an assay for the measurement of autoantibodies against a panel of antigens known to be expressed in lung cancer. Research continues into its potential role as part of a strategy including imaging for early detection of lung cancer in individuals at increased risk.
	The United Kingdom National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four UK countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation. The UK NSC draws on latest research evidence and assesses new programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria, covering the condition, the test, the treatment options, the effectiveness and acceptability of the screening programme.
	The UK NSC last reviewed screening for lung cancer in July 2006 and is due to review its position on screening again following the publication of the Health Technology Assessment's (HTA) pilot study results which are part of the HTA's UK Lung Cancer Screening Trial (UKLS). The UK NSC will also consider any additional new evidence available at that time.

Care Homes: Abuse

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will ensure that in all cases when allegations are made to social services or health services of abuse of residents of care homes the police are informed;
	(2)  if he will hold a meeting with Essex county council to discuss the findings of the Essex Safeguarding Adults Board into the performance of the Greenways Care Home in Colchester;
	(3)  if he will undertake an investigation into the appropriateness of the transfer by Essex county council of care homes to care home company Excelcare; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what recent representations he has received about the standard of operation by Excelcare  (a) of care homes nationally and  (b) of the Greenways Care Home in Colchester.

Paul Burstow: Decisions to notify the police of allegations of abuse of a resident in a care home are taken locally by safeguarding adults boards, depending on the nature and severity of individual allegations. The Department does not consider it would be appropriate to introduce a requirement that all such allegations, regardless of circumstances, should be automatically referred to the police.
	The transfer or sale of care homes by councils to independent operators is a matter for local consultation and determination. Local councils are free to decide how best to provide care services for their populations, having regard for local need and their budgets. All care homes, whether in the independent or public sectors, must be registered with and regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
	The Department has no plans to meet with Essex county council to discuss the findings of the Essex Safeguarding Adults Board into the performance of the Greenways Care Home in Colchester. The Department has received no other recent representations about the standard of operation by Excelcare, either nationally or at the Greenways Care Home in Colchester.
	We are informed by CQC that 35 services operated by Excelcare, including 33 residential care and nursing homes, are registered with it. CQC meets with Excelcare regularly to discuss the quality of care services operated by the company.
	At the most recent meeting, in late February 2010, 28 of 35 Excelcare services were rated "good", five "adequate" and one was yet to be rated by CQC. One was rated "poor". In the case of this service, CQC was content with the company's action plan for improvement.
	The last Government commenced a review of the safeguarding guidance No Secrets. We are considering how to proceed with the review, and will ensure that the case raised by the hon. Member is taken into account. We will make further announcements with respect to No Secrets and safeguarding in due course.

Carers

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to assist carers; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many people  (a) between 18 and 30 years old,  (b) between 31 and 40 years old,  (c) between 41 and 50 years old,  (d) between 51 and 60 years old and  (e) over the age of 60 years old were registered as carers in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) England in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many carers  (a) work full-time and  (b) undertake paid work not on a full-time basis in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) England.

Paul Burstow: The Department does not centrally hold the number of registered carers nor the number who undertake paid work.
	Carers may register with a range of organisations for different purposes. There is no single register for carers.
	To assist carers, we will extend the roll out of personal budgets to give people and their carers more control and purchasing power. We will use direct payments to carers and better community based provision to improve access to respite care. We will establish a commission for long-term care which will consider how we ensure responsible and sustainable funding for long-term care.

Carers: Finance

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that money allocated to primary care trusts to support carers goes to carers.

Paul Burstow: We are currently analysing information from strategic health authorities about the priority accorded to supporting carers by primary care trusts (PCTs) in 2009-10. However, the Department does not break down PCT revenue allocations by policies at either a national or local level. It is for PCTs to decide their priorities for investment locally, taking into account their local circumstances and priorities set out in the NHS Operating Framework.
	It is this Government's policy to enhance freedom for local government and PCTs as much as possible by reducing the ring-fencing of monies, freeing up resources to concentrate on local priorities and the delivery of essential frontline services. However, it is important that local government and PCTs ensure that they account locally for the priorities they determine.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Health Services

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been provided for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related research by his Department in the last five years.

Simon Burns: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Expenditure on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease research 
			  £ million 
			   Department of Health( 1,2)  Medical Research Council 
			 2005-06 0.5 0.1 
			 2006-07 0.9 0.4 
			 2007-08 1.3 1.5 
			 2008-09 2 2.2 
			 2009-10 3 (3)3.5 
			 (1) National Institute for Health Research and Policy Research Programme. (2) Excludes spend by NHS organisations from the research and development funding allocations made directly to them from 2005-06 to 2008-09. That information is not held centrally. (3) An estimated figure. 
		
	
	In addition, the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network is providing national health service research infrastructure support to 57 studies of relevance to the question.

Departmental Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the URL is of each website managed by  (a) his Department and  (b) each non-departmental public body and agency for which his Department is responsible.

Simon Burns: The Department is responsible for the following websites:
	www.dh.gov.uk
	www.nhs.uk
	Non-departmental bodies and agencies for which the Department is responsible, have the following URLs that are in line with Cabinet Office guidance:
	www.aerc.org.uk
	www.appointments.org.uk
	www.cqc.org.uk
	www.chre.org.uk
	www.gscc.org.uk
	www.hpa.org.uk
	www.hfea.gov.uk
	www.hta.gov.uk
	www.mhra.gov.uk
	www.monitor-nhsft.gov.uk
	In addition the Department is also responsible for reviewing, converging and closing the following websites as part of its commitment to Cabinet Office under Transformational Government:
	www.18weeks.nhs.uk/
	www.adb.dh.gov.uk/
	www.arsac.org.uk/
	www.asthmar-d.org.uk/
	www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk/
	www.pharmacopoeia.co.uk/
	www.buginvestigators.co.uk/
	www.clean-safe-care.nhs.uk
	www.comare.org.uk/
	www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk
	www.ct-toolkit.ac.uk/
	www.east-of-england-rdsu.org.uk/
	www.health4work.nhs.uk
	www.healthystart.nhs.uk/
	www.hsru.co.uk/
	www.hgc.gov.uk/
	www.immunisation.nhs.uk/
	www.info.doh.gov.uk/doh/iar.nsf?open
	www.invo.org.uk/
	www.nhsidentity.nhs.uk/
	www.nhsplus.nhs.uk/
	www.nhs-procure21.gov.uk/
	www.nibsc.ac.uk/
	www.photolibrary.nhs.uk/
	www.rdinfo.org.uk/
	www.rdlearning.org.uk/
	www.rddirect.org.uk/
	www.rdsu.org.uk/
	www.nhsft-regulator.gov.uk/
	www.shape.dh.gov.uk/
	www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/
	www.socialworkandcare.co.uk/
	www.valuingpeople.gov.uk/

Departmental Private Finance Initiative

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the revenue cost of each project sponsored by his Department under the private finance initiative over the lifetime of the project.

Simon Burns: The information in respect of the private finance initiative (PFI) schemes has been placed in the Library. The list shows all national health service trusts, NHS foundation trusts and primary care trusts with a PFI contract with the name and location of the scheme; the capital value; the length of the contract and the annual unitary charge (which are uprated annually for inflation), and which comes from revenue budgets.

General Practitioners: Standards

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to reduce the number of targets which GPs are expected to meet.

Simon Burns: We have made it clear that the national health service is to focus on securing improved health outcomes for patients rather than on top-down process targets that do not lead to improvements in patient health. We will be discussing with the profession and their representatives what this means for existing general practitioner contractual arrangements over the coming months.

Health Bill

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his timetable is for introduction and consideration of the Health Bill.

Simon Burns: As announced in the parliamentary debates on the Queen's Speech, the Government will seek to introduce a Health Bill in the autumn.

Health Services: EU Action

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy on the proposed EU cross-border health directive is; what assessment his Department has made of its effect on the NHS; and what consultation he intends to undertake on this matter prior to the agreement of any EU directive.

Anne Milton: The Government, along with many other European Union member states, support the idea of codifying existing European Court of Justice case law relating to article 56 of the treaty on the funding of the European Union. The Government's assessment of the Council of Ministers draft of the EU cross-border healthcare directive is that it delivers a number of key aims as follows:
	to protect the right of the home member state to decide entitlements to health care, whether locally or nationally;
	to ensure that member states can operate a meaningful system of prior authorisation for hospital care and other specialised care;
	to maintain the 'gatekeeper' function (i.e. to maintain the UK Commissioner, general practitioner and consultant determination of entitlements to treatment through the national health service); and
	to avoid the extension of EU competence, whether through the active text of the directive (e.g. EU-wide health care standards) or through powers delegated in the directive (e.g. legally binding measures on eHealth).
	The Department launched a consultation on the European Commission's proposals for a directive on the application of patients' rights in cross-border health care in October 2008 and published the response in April 2009. A partial impact assessment was also published in October 2008, which estimated that demand was low and therefore the cost to the NHS would be limited. Further consultation will follow when a final directive is agreed with the European Parliament.

Mental Health Services

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for people assessed as requiring cognitive behavioural therapy;
	(2)  what his policy is on the provision of access to  (a) talking therapies and  (b) cognitive behavioural therapy for those diagnosed with severe mental health problems.

Paul Burstow: We have set out, in "Our Programme for Government", a commitment to ensure greater access to talking therapies to reduce long-term costs for the national health service. This is a clear public health priority for us and we are currently working to identify how we will take forward this commitment.
	Psychological therapies can be a key element of the treatment of people with severe and enduring mental health conditions, particularly when these conditions are experienced alongside depression and anxiety disorders. In these cases, the delivery of cognitive behavioural therapy and other National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence-compliant therapies is the recommended treatment. Services for these clients is largely provided by psychology departments in specialist mental health trusts. The implementation of "improving access to psychological therapies" services for people in community settings with mild to moderate conditions will reduce the number of referrals to specialist mental health trusts and enable them to focus on providing services to those with severe and enduring mental illness.

Mental Health Services: Children

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that children with a dual diagnosis of a mental health problem and learning disability have both diagnoses recorded in the  (a) child and adolescent mental health services commissioning process,  (b) children and young people's plans and  (c) children's health needs assessments.

Paul Burstow: It is for local partners to agree how best to record and reflect in the processes for commissioning of child and mental heath the needs of those children with both a mental health problem and a learning disability.
	Current guidance states that each local Children and Young People's Plan must identify action to improve outcomes for children, including physical and mental health and emotional well-being, with particular reference to the needs of children with disabilities. These will inform the services that are commissioned.
	Children's health needs assessments and the Children and Young People's Plan feed into the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) commissioning process.

NHS

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his plans are for the future of strategic health authorities.

Simon Burns: The coalition agreement made clear that the Government intend to establish a new independent NHS Commissioning Board, to allocate resources and provide commissioning guidelines.
	The NHS Commissioning Board will combine functions currently provided by the Department and strategic health authorities (SHAs), and deliver these in a much more streamlined way. The NHS Commissioning Board will exercise its functions through the regional offices that will report directly to the chief executive.
	In the meantime, SHAs will continue to have a vital role in delivering financial control and performance, and driving improvements in quality and productivity.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding he plans to allocate to hospitals for the purpose of providing patient care for the first 30 days after discharge as a consequence of the proposals announced on 8 June 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: At this early stage, it is not possible to provide the detailed financial information requested.
	Plans for the implementation of this policy, which is designed to better align payments in the national health service to drive up the quality of care that patients receive, will be progressed over the coming months. Issues relating to financial flows will be addressed as part of this work.

NHS: Standards

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which datasets were used to measure primary care trust performance against local indicators in the world class commissioning assurance process; and if he will publish such datasets for the outcome indicator  (a) mental health patients in employment,  (b) access to psychological services,  (c) reduce acute inpatient admissions to mental health units,  (d) adults in contact with secondary mental health services in settled accommodation,  (e) health improvement in deprived areas,  (f) falls and  (g) 28 day unplanned readmission;
	(2)  which datasets are used to measure primary care trust world class commissioning scores; and if he will publish these datasets available for the outcome indicator (a) delayed transfers of care,  (b) under 18 conception rate,  (c) deaths from chronic liver disease,  (d) suicide and injury undetermined intent mortality rate,  (e) drug treatment waiting times,  (f) percentage drug users effective treatment,  (g) rate of hospital admissions per 100,000 for alcohol related harm and (h) percentage of all deaths that occur at home.

Simon Burns: World class commissioning (WCC) assurance assesses primary care trusts (PCTs) commissioning capabilities across three elements; outcomes, competencies and governance.
	PCTs have selected up to eight health outcomes as priorities for their local population. The majority are selected from a national list with up to three defined locally. The national list of outcome measures is contained in the "World Class Commissioning Assurance Handbook, 2009-10", copies of which have been placed in the Library. In addition, two outcomes are set for all PCTs: reducing health inequalities and increasing life expectancy.
	The WCC health outcome data is available for PCTs and other national health service professionals via the NHS Information Centre. There are no plans to publish these datasets nationally.

NHS: Standards

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure consistency of standards between primary care trusts.

Simon Burns: The Department will set out proposals on the future role and functions of primary care trusts in due course.

Respite Care

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether it is his policy to ring-fence funding allocated to respite care; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his policy is on the provision of respite care for carers.

Paul Burstow: This Government recognise that breaks from caring is one of the top priorities for carers in terms of the sort of support they want.
	Resources allocated for carer support by the previous Government was not ring-fenced. We are examining how effectively existing arrangements are being implemented. We are currently analysing information from strategic health authorities about the priority accorded to supporting carers by primary care trusts (PCTs). In addition, we will consider how local authority direct payments and personal budgets can be used in ways that enable both carers and the people that they care for to access community support, including respite.
	It is this Government's policy to enhance freedom for local government and PCTs as much as possible by reducing the ring-fencing of monies, freeing up resources to concentrate on local priorities and the delivery of essential frontline services. However, it is important that local government and PCTs ensure that they account locally for the priorities they determine.

Social Services: Kirklees

Simon Reevell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the quality of adult social care provision in the Kirklees local authority area.

Paul Burstow: The assessment of the quality of adult social care provision locally is the responsibility of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), as regulator of health and adult social care services.
	We are informed by CQC that it considers that Kirklees council is performing well in delivering adult social care outcomes for people in its area. A copy of CQC's most recent performance report for the council-for 2008-09-has been placed in the Library.
	CQC also regulates individual social care providers in the Kirklees area. It publishes quality ratings for all individual social care services in its online directory of care services. This is available at:
	www.cqc.org.uk/findcareservices.cfm

Swine Flu: Disease Control

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total gross expenditure by his Department was on the purchase of  (a) anti-viral drugs and (b) vaccines to combat swine influenza in the last 18 months.

Anne Milton: The Department's spend on antivirals and vaccines for pandemic influenza preparedness and the swine flu outbreak in the last 18 months amounts to approximately £570 million. We are not able to break down this number due to confidentiality clauses in our contracts with the various manufacturers.
	This expenditure includes stocks of antivirals which continue to be available for future pandemic preparedness. It also includes stocks of H1N1 vaccine which are being held as a strategic reserve.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Adjournment Debates

Chris Bryant: To ask the Leader of the House 
	(1)  if he will make provision for hon. Members to submit applications for adjournment debates online;
	(2)  if he will make provision for hon. Members to table and add their names to early-day motions online.

George Young: The arrangements for submitting applications for adjournment debates, and for tabling and adding names to early-day motions, are a matter for the House.
	Any proposals to extend further the facilities for hon. Members to initiate or participate in the proceedings of the House online would have to incorporate robust authentication procedures, as well as demonstrating value for money.

Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Leader of the House what his most recent estimate is of the extent of unfunded pension liability of the Parliamentary Contributary Pension Fund.

George Young: The Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund (PCPF) is a funded pension scheme, with assets totalling £367.2 million, at last valuation, whose costs are met from contributions from members of the Fund, investment returns and an Exchequer contribution.
	The Government Actuary undertakes a triennial valuation in which he makes recommendations as to the necessary Exchequer contribution to the PCPF, in order to finance the pensions for future service of Members, Ministers and Office Holders, and any deficit. The Exchequer contribution can rise or fall depending on factors such as assumed investment returns and longevity assumptions.
	The deficit (unfunded liability) calculated as at 1 April 2008 (the date of the last valuation) was £50.9 million.

Trade Unions

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Leader of the House if he will hold discussions with trade unions representing House of Commons staff on any proposed Parliamentary reforms which affect them.

George Young: I am happy to meet trade unions representing staff of the House to discuss any matter falling within my responsibilities which may affect them.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the URL is of each website managed by  (a) his Department and  (b) each non-departmental public body and agency for which his Department is responsible.

John Penrose: The URLs of each website managed by  (a) my Department and  (b) each non-departmental public body(1) (NDPB) and agency are in the following table.
	(1) The URL of the main website of each NDPB has been provided in the table. To provide all URLs for each NDPB would incur disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Website  URL 
			  (a) My Department  
			 Department for Culture, Media and Sport (main) www.culture.gov.uk 
			  www.dcms.gov.uk 
			 BBC Charter Review www.bbccharterreview.org.uk 
			 Culture and Sport Evidence Programme (CASE) www.culture.gov.uk/case 
			 DCMS image bank www.dcmsimagebank.co.uk 
			 Digital Television www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk 
			 Flu guidance www.culture.gov.uk/fluguidance 
			 Lottery grants database www.lottery.culture.gov.uk 
			 Government Art Collection www.gac.culture.gov.uk 
			 UK World Heritage site www.culture.gov.uk/ukwhportal 
			   
			  (b) NDPBs  
			 Arts Council www.artscouncil.org.uk 
			 Big Lottery Fund www.biglotteryfund.org.uk 
			 British Library www.bl.uk 
			 British Museum www.britishmuseum.org 
			 Churches Conservations Trust www.visitchurches.org.uk 
			 Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) www.cabe.org.uk 
			 English Heritage (The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England) www.english-heritage.org.uk 
			 Football Licensing Authority www.flaweb.org.uk 
			 Gambling Commission www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk 
			 Geffrye Museum www.geffrye-museum.org.uk 
			 Horniman Public Museum and Public Park Trust www.horniman.ac.uk 
			 Horserace Betting Levy Board www.hblb.org.uk 
			 Imperial War Museum www.iwm.org.uk 
			 Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester www.msim.org.uk 
			 Museums, Libraries and Archives Council www.mla.gov.uk 
			 National Gallery www.nationalgallery.org.uk 
			 National Heritage Memorial Fund www.hlf.org.uk/NHMFWeb/AboutTheNHMF 
			 (including Heritage Lottery Fund) www.hlf.org.uk 
			 National Lottery Commission www.natlotcomm.gov.uk 
			 National Maritime Museum www.nmm.ac.uk 
			 National Museum of Science and Industry www.nmsi.ac.uk 
			 National Museums Liverpool www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk 
			 National Portrait Gallery www.npg.org.uk 
			 Natural History Museum www.nhm.ac.uk 
			 Olympic Delivery Authority www.alastinglegacy.co.uk 
			 Olympic Lottery Distributor www.olympiclotterydistributor.org.uk 
			 Public Lending Right www.plr.uk.com 
			 Royal Armouries www.royalarmouries.org 
			 Sir John Soane's Museum www.soane.org 
			 Sport England www.sportengland.org 
			 Tate Gallery www.tate.org.uk 
			 UK Anti-Doping www.ukad.org.uk 
			 UK Film Council www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk 
			 UK Sport www.uksport.gov.uk 
			 Victoria and Albert Museum www.vam.ac.uk 
			 VisitBritain www.visitbritain.com 
			 Wallace Collection www.wallacecollection.org 
			   
			  Advisory NDPBs  
			 Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites www.english-heritage.org.uk 
			 Advisory Committee on National Historic Ships www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/pages/the-advisory-committee.html 
			 Advisory Committee on the Governments Art Collection www.gac.culture.gov.uk/role/index.asp 
			 Advisory Council on Libraries www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/libraries/3408.aspx 
			 Legal Deposit Advisory Panel www.webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ 
			  www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/Libraries/legal_deposit/members_ldap.htm 
			 Public Lending Right Advisory Panel www.plr.uk.com/allaboutplr/plrCommittees/plrCommittees.htm 
			 Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest www.mla.gov.uk/what/cultural/export 
			 Spoliation Advisory Panel www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/cultural_property/3296.aspx 
			 Theatres Trust www.theatrestrust.org.uk 
			 Treasure Valuation Committee www.webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk 
			  www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/ 
			 VisitEngland www.enjoyengland.com 
			 Tribunal NDPB - 
			 Horserace Betting Levy Appeal Tribunal for England and Wales www.hblb.org.uk 
			   
			  Agency  
			 The Royal Parks Website www.royalparks.org.uk 
			 The Royal Parks online shop www.royalparksstore.org.uk

Departmental Manpower

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the cost to the public purse of proposed reductions in numbers of non-frontline staff in his Department and its agencies;
	(2)  what his most recent estimate is of the annual cost to his Department of redundancy payments for  (a) front line and  (b) other staff employed by (i) his Department and (ii) its agency.

John Penrose: To deliver savings in 2010-11, the Department is making savings on its non-pay budgets, and through reducing spend on non-permanent staff. The Department and its agency will take all possible steps to avoid compulsory redundancies. We are working closely with staff and unions to ensure this outcome. We will not be making final decision on these items until overall spending figures have been confirmed through the usual Budget and public spending review processes later this year.

Departmental Pay

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much was paid in bonuses to civil servants in his Department in 2009-10.

John Penrose: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport paid a total of £645,262 in bonuses to staff in the financial year 2009-10. Awards were made in line with Cabinet Office principles and guidelines on performance-related pay.

Departmental Travel

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the  (a) name and  (b) version is of each computer software package used by his Department to calculate its travel costs.

John Penrose: The Department does not operate a dedicated software package for the recording and calculation of its travel costs. It receives management information on a monthly basis from providers of travel booking services and procurement cards in the form of excel spreadsheets. These are then collated by the procurement team for the corporate accounting system.

Licensed Premises

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many  (a) premises and  (b) independent retailers in (i) England, (ii) the East Midlands and (iii) Leicester (A) applied for and (B) were granted (1) alcohol licences and (2) 24-hour alcohol licences in each of the last five years,

John Penrose: The Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment Licensing Statistical Bulletins collect the number of applications for premises licences and club premises certificates and the number granted in England and Wales.
	Under the Licensing Act 2003, premises licences and club premises certificates may authorise regulated entertainment and/or late night refreshment as well as the sale or supply of alcohol. It is not possible to identify separately licences and certificates that authorise the sale or supply of alcohol or sale or supply of alcohol for 24 hours in their standard timings.
	The following table lists the number of applications for premises licences and club premises certificates and the number that were granted in each year(1).
	
		
			  Financial year  England and Wales  East Midlands  Leicester 
			   Applied  Granted  Applied  Granted  Applied  Granted 
			 2006-07 15,154 14,486 1,956 1,871 98 91 
			 2007-08 12,586 11,837 954 931 86 77 
			 2008-09 10,800 10,165 883 769 88 81 
		
	
	The following table lists the number of premises licensed for the sale or supply of alcohol for 24 hours in their standard timings, on 31 March in each of the following years(1).
	
		
			   England and Wales  East Midlands  Leicester 
			 2007 5,126 221 23 
			 2008 6,338 277 28 
			 2009 7,178 290 30 
		
	
	(1) Please see statistical bulletin for response rates for each year.

Licensed Premises

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many  (a) premises and  (b) independent retailers in (i) England, (ii) the East Midlands and (iii) Leicester had their licences to sell alcohol revoked (A) for any reason and (B) in circumstances where the persistent sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 18 years had been demonstrated in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many independent retailers have had their licence to sell alcohol revoked in  (a) England,  (b) the East Midlands and  (c) Leicester in each of the last five years.

John Penrose: The Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment Licensing Statistical Bulletin collects the number of licences revoked, but does not indicate why or the type of premises involved. Licences may be revoked following a review by the licensing authority for a number of reasons, including persistent selling of alcohol to children. However, the persistent sale of alcohol to children is a specific criminal offence under section 147A of the Licensing Act 2003.
	The table lists premises licences or club premises certificates that were revoked, following a completed review(1).
	(1 )Please see statistical bulletin for response rates for each year.
	
		
			  Financial year  England and Wales  East Midlands  Leicester 
			 2006-07 92 6 2 
			 2007-08 155 17 8 
			 2008-09 154 18 6 
		
	
	This table lists premises licences that were suspended by a court(1).
	(1 )Please see statistical bulletin for response rates for each year.
	
		
			  Financial year  England and Wales  East Midlands  Leicester 
			 2006-07 (1)70 7 0 
			 2007-08 18 0 0 
			 2008-09 12 0 0 
			 Prior to 6 April 2007 premises licence could be suspended following a review. From 6 April 2007, a Premises Licence could be suspended by a court, under Section 147B(1) of the Licensing Act 2003 (as amended by the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006) for the sale or supply of alcohol, following an offence of persistently selling to underage children.

Public Houses

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many public houses there were in each of the last 10 years.

John Penrose: The Department does not collate information specifying the number of public houses. The Department's Statistical Bulletin on Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment does, however, identify the number of premises authorising the sale or supply of alcohol by means of a premises licence or a club premises certificate.
	These modelled figures apply not only to public houses, but also to other licensed premises permitted to make on-sales or both on-and-off sales or supplies of alcohol, such as hotels and restaurants. Modelled estimates have been rounded to the nearest 100.
	
		
			  As at 31 March  Premises licences permitted to sell or supply alcohol, excluding off-sales only 
			 2007 112,300 
			 2008 117,100 
			 2009 116,500 
			  Source: DCMS Statistical Bulletin: Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment Licensing: England and Wales, April 2008 to March 2009 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/research/Licensing_Statistical_Bulletin_2009.pdf 
		
	
	Prior to this period, licensing information was published by the Home Office. This information can be found in the DCMS Statistical Bulletin Liquor Licensing England and Wales, July 2003 June 2004, page 8:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www.culture.gov.uk/images/research/7138BLiquorReport.pdf

Wigan

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  for what public spending projects within  (a) Wigan constituency and  (b) the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan his Department had secured Treasury approval between 1 January 2010 and the date of his appointment as Secretary of State;
	(2)  what projects his Department is funding within  (a) Wigan constituency and  (b) the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan.

John Penrose: The Government are reassessing spending approvals granted between 1 January 2010 and the general election to ensure that they offer good value for money and are consistent with the Government's priorities. Further announcements will be made in due course.
	The Department does not hold information on projects in the Wigan constituency or the metropolitan borough of Wigan which are funded by its arm's length bodies, and collating this information would incur disproportionate cost.

CABINET OFFICE

10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how much has been spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments at the  (a) offices and  (b) flats at 10 and 11 Downing Street since 7 May 2010;
	(2)  how much has been spent on re-carpeting the  (a) offices and  (b) flats at 10 and 11 Downing Street since 6 May 2010;
	(3)  when he expects the refurbishment of the kitchens in the flats at 10 and 11 Downing Street to be completed;
	(4)  what electrical items of each type have been purchased for the  (a) offices and  (b) flats at 10 and 11 Downing Street since 7 May 2010; and what the monetary value was of those items;
	(5)  what estimate he has made of the refurbishment and maintenance costs made to the  (a) offices and  (b) flats at 10 and 11 Downing Street since 6 May 2010.

Francis Maude: The Government are legally required to maintain the Downing street buildings to standards appropriate to its Grade 1 and 2 listed status in consultation with English Heritage. In addition to providing office accommodation, the building also fulfils an important representational role. Information on improving Cabinet Office buildings, including the Downing street estate is included in the annual Cabinet Office resource accounts.
	No public funds have been spent on interior design, electrical goods or re-carpeting for the offices or flats at 10 and 11 Downing street since 6 May 2010.
	It is anticipated that work to the No.11 flat will be carried out in summer 2010. There are no plans for any work to the No. 10 flat.

China Taskforce

Tony Baldry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he next expects the UK China Taskforce to meet; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: The chairmanship of the China Taskforce is an appointment made by the Prime Minister. We would expect the taskforce to meet once a new Chair has been appointed.

Civil Servants: Recruitment

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what consideration he has given to the introduction of a revised version of the European Fast Stream for 2010.

Francis Maude: A revised version of the European Fast Stream was introduced for the 2010 Fast Stream recruitment round. 21 new European Fast Streamers have been recruited and will be placed in a range of Government Departments.

Departmental Pay

Tom Brake: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much was paid in bonuses to civil servants in his Department in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Francis Maude: The amount paid in non-consolidated awards to civil servants in the Cabinet Office under the last Government for the years 2008-09 and 2009-10 is detailed as follows:
	
		
			  Performance year  Paid in  Total paid in non-consolidated awards (£) 
			 2008-09 2009-10 1,769,265 
			 2007-08 2008-09 1,745,118 
		
	
	There is also a small number of staff who received in-year non-consolidated awards over this period. These decisions are delegated to line managers and as such the total cost is not held centrally and would be available only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Plants

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much has been spent on  (a) cut flowers and  (b) pot plants for the (i) offices and (ii) flats at 10 and 11 Downing Street since 7 May 2010.

Francis Maude: No money has been spent on flowers or pot plants for offices or flats at 10 and 11 Downing street since 7 May 2010.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when and in what form he plans to publish a list of all items of expenditure by his Department over £25,000.

Francis Maude: The Cabinet Office is currently working with the Treasury and the Transparency Board, who are leading on this work to agree the data, format and method of publication of information.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Iain Wright: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the  (a) implementation of penalty clauses and payments in its contracts and  (b) potential legal action arising from the deferral and cancellation of contracts and projects under his Department's plans to achieve cost savings; and whether those estimates are included in the total cost savings to be achieved by his Department.

Francis Maude: The Efficiency and Reform Group is working to establish the methodology and contractual implications of this work.

Departmental Reorganisation

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office by what mechanisms his Department informs  (a) non-departmental public bodies and  (b) executive agencies of machinery of Government changes.

Francis Maude: The Prime Minister notifies Parliament of significant machinery of government changes. Communication to staff within a Department, including those in executive agencies, and communication to those outside a Department, such as non-departmental public bodies, the wider public sector and customers or businesses who will be affected by the change is the responsibility of the relevant Department.

Government Departments: Publications

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will publish under his Department's Open Data Initiative the title of each post in each  (a) Department,  (b) non-departmental public body and  (c) agency that remains unfilled as a result of the freeze on public sector recruitment.

Francis Maude: We expect Departments to restructure to handle the roles left vacant by the recruitment freeze. Organograms will be published online for every Department which will reflect these changes. Overall savings from the freeze are estimated at £120 million.

Government Departments: Publications

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether he plans to publish the job titles and descriptions of civil servants in his Department under the Open Data Initiative.

Francis Maude: The Cabinet Office has published organisation charts and staff lists for the Cabinet Office, including No. 10, which provide names of senior civil servants, their job titles and contact details. These data will be updated later in the year to include the job titles of other civil servants in the Department. The organisation charts can be found at:
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/about-cabinet-office/cabinet-office-structure.aspx
	and the data have been released through
	www.data.gov.uk
	A copy of this information will also be placed in the Library.

Private Sector: Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his estimate is of the number of private sector jobs in the UK which are sustained by public sector spending.

Danny Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
	Direct general Government employment was 5.5 million in the final quarter of 2009-19% of total employment in the UK. The public sector also has an impact on employment through its consumption of privately produced goods and services, as well as through providing services, such as education and transport infrastructure, which indirectly support the private sector economy.
	An estimate of the number of private sector jobs sustained by the public sector in these ways is not available.

Public Transport: Timetables

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the publication under the open data initiative of rail and bus timetables in a machine readable open format.

Francis Maude: My officials are in contact with the Department of Transport about timetable data. The Department for Transport are leading discussions with the Operating Companies about when we can release this data in an open and re-useable form.

Senior Civil Servants: Pay

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what  (a) special advisers,  (b) consultants and  (c) civil servants appointed since 6 May are being paid more than £150,000 per annum.

Francis Maude: Details of special advisers appointed by this administration are set out in the Prime Minister's statement of 10 June,  Official Report, column 32WS. None are paid more than £150,000 per annum.
	The remuneration of individuals employed by private sector companies, including consultancies, is a matter for the companies concerned.
	For details of recent civil service appointments, I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave him on 14 June,  Official Report, column 334W.

Senior Civil Servants: Pensions

David Blunkett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make it his policy to publish the remuneration rates for all persons in receipt of Civil Service pensions who are employed on non-executive or consultancy contracts with Government departments at rates which exceed the ministerial element of the Prime Minister's salary; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: There is no prohibition on retired civil servants returning to work. Many Government Departments have chosen to operate a policy of "partial retirement" such that older workers may apply to restructure their jobs so that they are drawing pension and a reduced salary. This enables Departments to retain skills and enables staff to extend working lives by moving gradually into retirement.
	To protect public funds, the civil service pension scheme operates a policy of "abatement". This means that, where people are receiving both a civil service pension and pay in respect of a contract of service, their pension will be reduced so that the total of pension and pay does not exceed the pay they were receiving before drawing their pension.
	Our transparency commitments were set out in the Prime Minister's letter of 29 May to Cabinet colleagues, a copy will be placed in the Libraries of the House. On 1 June we published details of public servants paid at annual full-time rates of £150,000 or more at 31 March 2010. We have committed to extend disclosure to the rest of the senior civil service and to those paid by non-departmental public bodies at rates in excess of the minimum applicable to the senior civil service. These disclosures include non-executives and similar appointments.

TREASURY

Annuities

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate has been made of potential  (a) liabilities and  (b) other costs to the public purse from the Government's plans to end the rules requiring compulsory annuitisation at the age of 75 years.

Mark Hoban: The Government are committed to removing the requirement to purchase a pension annuity by age 75. Details of any changes to existing tax rules, including fiscal implications, are announced by the Chancellor as part of the Budget process.

Public Expenditure

Tom Watson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated number of Government financial transactions of amounts greater than £25,000 was in the latest year for which figures are available.

Danny Alexander: The Treasury does not hold this information but the Government have committed to publish online all new items of central Government spending over £25,000 from November 2010 (with limited exemptions on national security and personal privacy grounds).

Public Expenditure

Tom Watson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether publication of items of departmental expenditure above £25,000 per annum will be mandatory or voluntary.

Danny Alexander: The Prime Minister has written an open letter to all Departments on plans to open up Government data. This included a commitment that all new items of central Government spending over £25,000 would be published online from November 2010. Limited exemptions on national security and personal privacy grounds will be permitted.